The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said it knew nothing about the burning of the Ondo State secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
It reacted in a statement by the party’s spokesman in the state, Mr Kennedy Ikantu Peretei.
Entitled “PDP not behind the burning of APC secretariat in Akure,” it said: “It is very uncharitable for the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) to accuse the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) for the activities of thugs who set the APC Secretariat on fire in Akure.
“Our nation is going through a very traumatic period, requiring sobriety and prayers of all well meaning Nigerians. In the last twenty four hours, several Police Stations, Public Buildings, Banks and private buildings have been razed down by hoodlums who have taken advantage of the on going EndSars protests. Even the Palace of the Oba of Lagos was attacked.
“How on earth can anyone attribute such dastardly acts to PDP, a party that presided over the affairs of Nigeria for sixteen unbroken years. Years we all remember now with nolstagia. Years of peace, prosperity and abundance.
“We now live in fear, anxiety, uncertainty and total hopelessness. Nobody should draw the PDP into how the APC has steadily led us to where we are now as a nation.
“The PDP wishes to advise President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, arrest the drift, violence and gloom that have enveloped our nation instead of looking for who to blame.”
APC had accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party of sponsoring attacks on resident of its Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and the party secretariat.
It said it was intervention of a team of policemen from Elerinla Police station that saved the party chieftain and his family.
The Ondo APC stated that the inability to wreck havoc on its Chairman’s house made ‘the thugs, chanting “Power to the People” headed straight to the party SPate secretariat, and set it ablaze.’
Spokesman for the Ondo APC, Alex Kalejaiye, said the party was stunned that a legitimate protest by youths could be employed to achieve political vendetta by setting the party’s secretariat on fire.
“It is sad to note that the People’s Democratic Party, could go this far to perpetuate what it could not achieve during the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ondo State.
“The APC has it on good authority that the PDP has also perfected plans to target leaders of the APC that are either of Akure origin, or based in the capital city for attacks in the next couple of days.
“The fact that the APC always prefer to err on the side of caution should not be mistaken for cowardice. The party has the followers and capability to contain such excesses from any aggressive party.
“We therefore call on security agencies to wade in, and stop this senseless cruelty that is being unleashed by a political group. Members of the public, and indeed, APC leaders deserve protection. This is the only way to avert self-help.
“The APC identifies with sincere and genuine agitation for a better Nigeria, but quick to add that what is happening in Akure is no longer a protest to end SARS, but a political aggression, resulting from electoral defeat.”
