Amid a police cordon of the Ondo State secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, youths of the party on Monday protested the absence of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in the state since his return from medical leave demanding his resumption in the state or resignation.
Security operatives drafted from the Police and DSS in Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), and Hilux vehicles had sealed off the PDP state secretariat near the old Owo Motor Park in Akure, to maintain law and order and prevent hoodlums from hijacking the peaceful protest.
The leader of the protesting youths, carrying placards, Tayo Oluyi, who spoke with reporters inside the premises, flayed the seal-up of the party’s headquarters which he described as an alleged attempt to gag opposition in the state.
He said that even after officially notifying the police about the plan to stage a peaceful protest, the APC-led government allegedly used security operatives to forcefully halt the planned protest against the governor.
According to him, the protesters were exercising their constitutional rights as enshrined in the Constitution of the country, which he said allows the citizens to peacefully express displeasure against any wrong policies of government.
He said: “We were really embarrassed because the security agencies were fully notified because we don’t want a situation where PDP will be responsible for a breakdown of law and order.
“But to our surprise, we saw security agencies with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and their vehicles with about 400 personnel armed to the teeth at the front of our secretariat, and we were asking them what they were doing here, but they said they don’t want us to enter.
“After some time, they allowed us to gain access, but some of our staff were asked to leave the office. All the youths that were supposed to participate in the peaceful protest were outside.”
In his words: “It is no longer gain saying that there has been a vacuum of leadership in Ondo state in the last nine months. We could all recollect that sometimes in April, the Ondo people were agitated about Akeredolu’s state of health, and that was what led to Akeredolu handing over to his deputy governor as Acting governor.
“But in the last 32 days that the governor returned to Nigeria from his medical leave in Germany, we have not sighted the governor in the state, yet we have heard of the governor attending to official duties. We have heard that the governor passed an important bill into law and is doing all these in a proxy.”
Oluyi said: “All we have asked for is very simple. Where is Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu? He was elected the Governor of Ondo State, but he failed four years, and the second term is going without result.
“Even if he’s not going to do anything, let him come to Ondo State. If he’s not capable of ruling again, let him resign honorably. So, we are asking Akeredolu to resign or resume. We can no longer continue like this. We are the voice of the people, we are the voice of the masses.
“We are saying that Mr. Governor must resume duty, he can no longer govern us by proxy, and we can no longer be hearing that he’s one thing or the other when we have not sighted him. We know the governor we have, if he’s truly fit, we would have sighted him in the streets of Akure.
“The youth wing of the party is giving Mr Governor the next 24 hours to address the people of Ondo State and we are giving him three days ultimatum resume back to the state.
“We have been seeing a series of responses from the APC that the governor will join us in a few days’ time. We are giving him three days ultimatum to address us and if he fails, we as the opposition party will occupy the streets of Akure and we will continue to demand that he either resumes or resigns”
Explaining the presence of security operatives at the PDP headquarters, the state’s police command spokeswoman, Mrs. Funmi Odunlami, a DSP, said the drafting of security men became imperative as the organisers of the protest failed to inform the command properly.
According to her: “This morning, policemen actually sent some of its personnel to the place to maintain law and order. On Friday we got a kind of anonymous letter stating that some people wanted to protest, and the letter came in without letter-head, and no details of those who wanted to embark on the protest.
“The letter was signed by one Akintayo Oluyi and from our background check, we are not sure whether he is the youth leader of the party or a member of the party.
“So for the safety of the party involved, we just felt to mobilize our men to maintain law and order in case of anything. This is because we don’t want a situation whereby people will just take themselves to the streets, and at the end of the day people will deny that they are not the ones.”
Reacting, the PDP, in a statement by its state spokesman, Mr. Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, condemned the security seal-up of its secretariat, alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has employed the security men to intimidate the PDP youths from protesting against Akeredolu’s absence.
Also, the PDP petitioned the Inspector General of Police Olukayode Egbetokun, and the state police boss to immediately withdraw their men from its secretariat.
According to the press statement dated 16th October 2023, titled “How Akeredolu led APC failed to stall “Aketi must resume or resign” protest”:
“As early as 6.00 am this morning, a combined team of Police, SSS men, and Anti-cultists Unit of the Nigerian Police stormed the Ondo State PDP Secretariat with Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), more than 8 Hilux vehicles and nearly 400 men in all to seal off the secretariat to stall a PDP Youth Wing protest to demand the whereabouts of Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu who has not been seen in Ondo State since April this year.
“Even staff of the secretariat were denied access to their offices. The stern-looking officers offered no explanations.
“However, it took frantic efforts of members of the PDP State Working Committee before the secretariat gate was opened amidst serious tension and confrontation.
“PhotoJournalists were threatened to stop recording anything lest their cameras were smashed. But as the PDP youths forced themselves into the secretariat, proceeding on a street protest would amount to daring the trigger-happy police to do their worst.
“As much as the officers tried to stop the protest, they failed because the youths displayed their banners and placards to Journalists who gained entrance into the secretariat.
“As we speak, the policemen are still in front of the secretariat with their vehicles. I want to use this medium to appeal to the Inspector General of the Nigerian Police and the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command to immediately withdraw their men from our secretariat. We cannot be intimidated by security agents who are paid with taxpayers’ money. We have the right to demand the whereabouts of the governor if he is missing in action.
“Early yesterday, the APC spokesman in a fear-laden statement accused the PDP of instigating a crisis in Ondo State. We make bold to say that the presence of the security men is not unconnected with the APC’s fear of its shadow and their failure to get Akeredolu to come to Ondo State for the assignment he was elected for.
“Let it be known to all, that we shall continue to demand for Akeredolu to resume or resign until either is achieved.”
Earlier, the ruling APC in the state in a statement by its state spokesman, Mr. Alex Kalejaiye, had said it uncovered alleged plans by the opposition PDP to instigate a crisis in Akure, the state capital on Monday.
The APC claimed that the essence of the alleged plot was to create a semblance of political instability in the peaceful state and portray the ruling party in a bad light ahead of next year’s governorship election.
The party alleged: “It has come to our knowledge that some PDP chieftains, who have started making huge contributions, in collaboration with some players within our fold, have finalised plans to destabilise the Sunshine State.”
Noting that Ondo State had been peaceful, organised, and enjoying enviable political stability, and industrial harmony, the APC said:
“It is unbelievable that the main opposition party, PDP, which is engulfed by leadership crisis in Abuja, will prefer to go into an unholy alliance with some elements in APC to foment an avoidable crisis in Ondo State.”
Also, at an emergency meeting earlier, the APC condemned in strong terms alleged thoughts and plans to instigate political upheaval and create disaffection among the people.
It argued that Governor Akeredolu had been discharging his duties and responsibilities without any hitch, irrespective of his location.
Expressing its appreciation to the people for their understanding and prayers for the governor, the APC assured: “We are very optimistic that our Governor; your performing Governor, will be in our midst in a matter of days.” the party assured.
According to the statement: ”It is imperative to state that any political gathering or activity at this time could easily be hijacked beyond the control and capacity of the organizers.
“We therefore call on security agencies to be vigilant and ensure that every gathering is well-guided, and closely monitored for compliance.
“The party is confident that the APC-led government in Ondo State will continue to invest in projects that have direct bearings on the welfare of the public. We will also not relax our commitment to the State workforce. “
Swiftly, the PDP through Kalejaiye’s counterpart, Peretei, had debunked the allegations against it as it described the APC as a party populated by allegedly shameless people.
According to Peretei: “The governor has been absent from his duty post since April this year. Yet they are comfortable with the total collapse of governance in the state.
“The governor has not been seen in the state since April this year. The PDP is known for its peaceful and developmental strides in the state. We cannot be accused of planning to create a crisis in the state.
“It is clear that APC is afraid of their shadows having failed to meet the expectations of the people.
“If they know where Akeredolu is, they should ask him to come out or resign honourably.”
