Be proactive or lose Ondo, APC group tells Buhari, party leaders

•Akeredolu accused of working for opposition •Commissioner: allegation against governor mischievous

A group of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Ondo State, under the aegis of Ondo APC Mandate Group, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leadership of the party to take steps that will ensure it does not lose the forthcoming general elections.

The group accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of working against the interest of the party in the state.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, the nation’s capital, its spokesman Olugbenga Bojuwomi said it was unfortunate that the government had not considered it necessary to investigate its previous allegations against the state government.

Then group insisted that the state government was working for candidates of the Action Alliance (AA) for National Assembly elections and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.

Bojuwomi said the Ondo State governor was not happy that his candidates did not win APC’s primaries and was sponsoring opposition parties for that reason.

The spokesman said the governor had concluded plans to bring in fake policemen and fake ballot papers to be used against the APC during the elections.

He said: “As the spate of insubordination and ego increase unabated on the part of Governor Akeredolu, his evil plan against the wish of the good people of Ondo State and the upcoming victory of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari are in tandem with that of a desperate and devilish undertaker.

“Apart from the fact that series of these aborted plans have been revealed by this group – Ondo APC Mandate Group – and other sister groups in the state before now, which has yielded no fruits in the ears of the Presidency and APC national headquarters, but as lovers of President Buhari and APC, the group will continue to expose evil plans by Akeredolu which can as well lead to loss of lives and property on the Election Day.

“However, to buttress this, a secret meeting was held in Akeredolu’s hometown, Owo, on Thursday, February 14, with all the divisional police officers (DPOs) where he informed them of the arrival of the fake policemen, soldiers and ballot papers already printed at the Governor’s Office.

“The attack on APC loyalists, who are working for Buhari’s success, was also discussed with the DPOs that night. On Friday, February 15, less than 24 hours after the meeting, several concerted attacks were carried out against some APC stalwarts in the same Owo under the supervision of these so-called DPOs and their men. Some people were macheted and shot; the case was reported to the new Commissioner of Police in OndoState. But up till now, no arrest has been made.

“The fake ballot papers have been printed in the Governor’s Office in other to use it to assist his AA National Assembly candidates and PDP presidential candidate in Ondo State. Also, all these fake policemen and soldiers with uniforms are being camped in the three senatorial district of the state.

“There have been several threats and warnings from Governor Akeredolu against house-to-house campaign for Mr. President in Ondo State. He is only promoting AA and PDP presidential candidate. That is why up till now there is no campaign for President Buhari in Ondo State by party members.

“Logistics that was released to Mr. Governor from Abuja was not given to APC stalwarts. In fact, the only condition for the money to be released to local governments was that you must work for AA or the PDP presidential candidate.

“Governor Akeredolu’s message to all obas and party faithful in Ondo State was that they should vote for AA in National Assembly and PDP candidate for the President during the elections.

“Furthermore, on Thursday, February 14 night, an undisclosed huge amount of money was given to Akeredolu from one of the PDP financers, a business mogul in telecommunication industry from the Southwest, for the ballot paper printing and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials as well as mobilisation for vote-buying for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar during the elections.

“We hereby call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and INEC to, as a matter of urgency, investigate their men in Ondo State before Governor Akeredolu uses them to cause popular unrest. This is because if all these evil plans, as exposed, are not stopped, Ondo State will boil during the elections.

“We call on the National Chairman of APC to investigate the activities of Governor Akeredolu and the party’s state executive with a view to unveiling their nocturnal activities on behalf of AA in Ondo State.

“Under normal circumstances, we expected APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole not to extend any invitation of caucus meeting held yesterday (Monday) to Governor Akeredolu since it is established from all indications that the Ondo State governor is Atiku Abubakar’s campaign director general in disguise.

“Prevention is better than cure. We say once again: if all these evil plans by Governor Akeredolu against the victory of our dear President Buhari and the peace of Ondo State are not aborted by concern authorities, Ondo State will catch fire on February 23.”

Also, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi, yesterday described as mischievous those behind the protest against Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his alleged disloyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said: “Governor Akeredolu has no divided loyalty to the ruling party. There was nowhere he campaigned for the Action Alliance or any other opposition party.

“To show his absolute commitment to the party, he flooded the streets with APC billboards, purchased campaign vehicles for the party in the 18 local government areas and funded intermittent radio jingles and television slots to market APC and its candidates.”

Olowolabi recalled that last week, there were mega political rallies in the three senatorial districts in Owo, Akure and Ore.

The commissioner said it got to a stage where the governor mandated his aides and State Executive Council (Exco) members to deliver their communities to the APC in the forthcoming general elections.

He condemned the group, saying the intention of those behind the allegation was to heat up the polity for their selfish interests.