The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Ondo State Government have disagreed sharply on the security situation in the state.
While the party raised an alarm at the situation which it described as worsening, the government called the party irresponsible.
In fact, the party demanded that the governor donates his alleged N1.2 billion monthly security vote to combating the state’s security problems.
The PDP said in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity in the state, Mr Leye Igbabo: “The Peoples Democratic Party Ondo State Chapter continues to express deep worry over the unabated insecurity situation in Ondo State and therefore urges Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to be compassionate, considerate, and passionate about the welfare and security of lives and property of the citizens, which he swore to protect.
“It will not only be cruel, heartless and ridiculous but equally lazy and insolent of the Governor Aiyedatiwa-led administration to conclude that the general insecurity being experienced in the whole country is the cause of the escalating insecurity in Ondo State and thus, folds its arms and expect the Federal Government to come and fight kidnappers and bandits in Ondo State.
“We hold very tenaciously that human life is inviolable and that its sanctity and dignity to live such life without being unduly cut short remains the chief duties of the government. We posit therefore that if proactive steps are deliberately taken by the Ondo State Government, like a stitch in time that saves nine, these banditries and kidnappings can be completely eradicated before they grow to become hydra-headed.
“Our Party expresses strong confidence in the professional expertise, training and capacity of the security personnel in Ondo State who have indeed made tremendous feats in busting crimes, smoking criminals out of their hideouts and effecting their arrests after diligent and discreet investigations even when they are not at the scenes of such crimes when they were being perpetrated.
“We believe very fervently that if these security operatives are given the right equipments needed to address and arrest these ugly trends, the right frame of mind and genuine motivation through constant attention to their welfare, payment of their salaries and allowances as at when due, they would surely deliver on the mandate to end the growing menace in the State, earlier than envisaged.
“Assuming without conceding that the N1.2b monthly security vote belongs solely and entirely to the Governor and his family, would it not be godly of a public-spirited leader to exhibit affection, compassion, empathy and sympathy towards the people he claims to be governing and thus, make available, without any prompting, the monthly security vote in the overall security interest of the populace? After all, the said monthly security vote is removed from the same taxpayers’ treasury.
“Our Party challenges Governor Aiyedatiwa to make public the expenditure of the huge security votes that are being withdrawn monthly for no justifiable reason other than being an entitlement of the governor.
“We can no longer pretend that all is well in Ondo State or rely on the usual rhetoric of government-is-on-the -top-of-the-situation empty narratives, even when bandits and kidnappers strike almost immediately after such empty boasts.
“The kidnapping and subsequent gruesome murder of an APC chieftain in Ose Local Government Area of the State, exposes yet again, the vulnerability of the members of the ruling party like any other citizens, to avoidable tortures and ignominious deaths, and the obvious need for all of us to demand actions from the Ondo State Governor.
“We patently draw the attention of the Governor to the warnings of the Biblical Mordecai to Queen Esther at a time like this in Shushan when he said to the queen: “think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews…..but thou and thy fathers house shall be destroyed..”, as no one knows the next victims.
“We unequivocally submit that before this cancerous menace grows to become insurmountable and irremediable in Ondo State, the time to act proactively is now!”
In his reaction through his spokesman, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the Governor said, “It is irresponsible for the PDP to say security is worsening in Ondo State. Yes, there may be pockets of incidents but the general outlook of our security has improved in the last two months.
“In the past few days, the Amotekun has arrested suspected kidnappers, same as the police and even local hunters are securing their environs, especially in Owo.
“There is a joint patrol funded by the government that is working day and night and more security posts have been created in flash points. Forest guards are now being recruited.
“These are what security vote is meant for. Security vote is not a personal money that can be donated somewhere.
“Those who are ignorant of how government works should stop raising unnecessary issues to gain attention.
“Let the party mention one PDP State in Nigeria where there are no security challenges. The PDP in Ondo State should stop politicising security issue in their desperate bid to gain attention,”
