By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
Five days to the Ondo governorship election, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his estranged Deputy, Hon Agboola Ajayi are locked in a war of words again over alleged plans to attack the deputy governor in Owo as he concludes his campaign tour in the area.
The Deputy Governor who is contesting the Ondo governorship election on the ticket of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) was scheduled on Monday to hold a campaign in Owo, the hometown of Governor Akeredolu, the All Progressives Candidate (APC) governorship candidate.
The Ondo State Government alleged that the ZLP candidate plotted to stage an attack on himself in Owo and frame the Governor as the master minder of the attack.
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The state government said as soon as they became aware of the alleged plot by Agboola, the security agencies were informed and the Owo campaign was cancelled.
Briefing newsmen on Monday evening, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Donald Ojogo, said Agboola made up the plan and attempted to pin it on the supporters of APC as he visited Owo on his campaign tour.
Ojogo noted the motive was to create crisis in the state and play the role of a victim in order to attract public sympathy.
He said: “He planned the attack against himself at Owo. It failed because the government made the sinister move. We find it curious and alarming. Contest must be made friendly. We are appealing to the security agencies to step up their game as we get close to the election.
“Agboola arranged hoodlums to shoot at his convoy while at Ijebu Owo, the strong base of Akeredolu. It was orchestrated to coincide with the visit of the INEC and IGP to the state.
“The Ondo State Government has implicit confidence in the capacity of the security agencies to unravel the circumstances leading to skirmishes in the last three weeks.
“We are, however, persuaded to believe that most of such attacks are organized by ‘the loud victims’ to demonize the Government and paint a savoury atmosphere of insecurity as we approach the October 10 election.
“The State Government wishes to reiterate its sustained call on the security agencies to heighten their surveillance and stem every untoward move in the direction of a peaceful election. Providing adequate security for Ajayi as he tours Owo today, can only be a potent effort to forestall a dangerous slide into perfidy.”
But the Deputy Governor differed on the allegation made by the Ondo state government. He said contrary to the information given by the commissioner, he suspended his campaign to Owo because intelligent reports revealed that Akeredolu perfected plots to lay siege of attacks on the supporters and members of his party who wanted to attend the rally.
Ajayi disclosed that the ZLP woman leader in Owo and many supporters were physically attacked since Sunday and their properties destroyed.
He spoke through the Director General of his campaign organisation, Dr Kola Ademujimi, noting that he has conducted a successful campaign across the state.
“We therefore, urge our teeming supporters in Owo Local Government Area to continue with the house to house campaign and mobilization,” he stated.
