The Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, has raised the alarm over an alleged plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to foment trouble during and after the November 26 governorship election in the state.
Adetimehin said it is clear that the PDP has accepted defeat but only looking for ways to create crisis in the state.
His reaction came as a result of a statement credited to PDP Ahmed Markafi-led faction governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN and the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, during the recent PDP campaign in Akure, the state capital.
Adetimehin, who doubles as the Chairman Campaign Organization of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, sated that the two PDP chieftains were fanning the ember of crisis in the state.
He alleged that PDP is indirectly encouraging their members, particularly the youths to go violent if their party loses.
Adetimehin described Fayose’s statement that the event of 1983 will re-occur in the state if the PDP fails as threatening and alarming to the people of the sunshine state.
He wondered why Jegede, who he claimed used the word, “no gentlemen approach on the election,” would asked the youths to raise their hands.
He asked if the purpose was to encourage the youths to take up arms if by November 26, the PDP loses?
He charged security operatives to caution the PDP leaders over their utterances, saying that utterances may lead to crisis.
He also warned Fayose not spite trouble in Ondo state, saying he is expecting the Ekiti state governor to be more concerned on how to refund the N4.745billion he allegedly got from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dakusi through the former Minister of Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.
He urged the PDP to always accept defeat, saying when APC lost in Balyesa state despite the violence that greeted the event, the party did not encourage their members to go violent but approached the court to seek redress.
Adetimehin said “PDP in Ondo state has accepted defeat and Jegede is aware that there is no way he can convince the people of the state because it is clear that he is only playing the game for Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s third term agenda.
“Our people have made up their minds to reject Mimiko and Jegede because there is no any legacies which the outgoing governor laid that his anointed boy wants to build upon.
“Is it legacies of our late governors, Adekunle Ajasin, Adebayo Adefarati and Olusegun Agagu which was completely wiped out by Mimiko’s administration that Jegede will build upon”?
He alleged that, “Jegede was the chairman of committee that was set up by Mimiko in his first term to look into all the ongoing projects of late Agagu’s administration and the same committee recommended that all the laudable projects including the N14 billion Owena Multipurpose Dam, the N38billion new stadium, which is sited in Jegede’s hometown Akure and many more should be stopped.
Adetimehin said Jegede still has burning issues of the original candidate of his party to contend with.
According to him, Mimiko and Jegede should face their issue within the party and stop fanning the ember of violence in the state.
“Our people will finally throw PDP into dustbin by November 26, because they won’t want a candidate that would continue the non-payment of workers and pensioners salaries. Someone, who will be a puppet to an outgoing governor, someone who cannot create employment and someone who will not find a means of repairing all the deplorable roads in the northern and southern senatorial districts, particularly in Akoko.”
