2024 Ondo guber: Aspirants trade words over destruction of billboards

Ahead of the governorship primary of the All Progressive Congress in Ondo state, the party’s aspirants, weekend traded words over the destruction of their campaign billboards across the state.

For the second time, the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation, (WACO), has accused loyalists of the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, of destroying billboards belonging to the campaign organisation.

However, in a swift response, the Lucky Ayedatiwa Campaign Organisation, described the allegations against its supporters as ridiculous and baseless.

In a statement in Akure, weekend, the spokesperson for WACO, Segun Ajiboye maintained that the destruction was carried out by Ayedatiwa followers, alleging the governor’s camp of intolerance, unleashing terror and destruction on the opposing camps.

Ajiboye urged the governor to call the political thugs to order in order not to thwart the peace being enjoyed in the state.

He attributed the action of Aiyedatiwa followers to political intolerance, claiming that about five billboards have been destroyed by these elements in the state capital alone.

According to him “It has come to the notice of the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation that despite the constant denial by the authoritarian government of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, its thugs have continued to unleash terror and destruction on members and properties of other governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State.

“The unstrained thugs of the governor again went on rampage on Friday in Akure and destroyed billboards of our principal, Wale Akinterinwa.

“The destruction was most noticeable at FUTA Junction, where the imposing unipole billboard of the frontline aspirant was shredded and pulled down.

“Unsurprisingly, the governor’s goons went as far as threatening the advertising agency never to replace the destroyed billboard.

“They went further to threaten to revoke his licence if he replaced it. This, again is not unexpected, going by the desperation in the camp of Governor Aiyedatiwa.

“It is worth noting that not even in the bad days of the ‘Wet e’ in the southwest were the scenes being created in Ondo state by Governor Aiyedatiwa and his thugs witnessed within the ranks of same political party”

The WACO recalled that similar alarm was raised last month while the Governor promised to bring perpetrators to book but nothing was done.

Ajiboye said: “Recall that we equally raised the alarm back in February when the governor’s thugs unleashed mayhem on the people during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the family of the late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

“While the governor vowed to bring to book those behind the heinous attacks, it is not surprising that nothing has been heard of the case since.

“The actions of the governor and his thugs have continued to bring the name of our great party into disrepute, while other political parties in the state stand by the sideline watching and plotting how to exploit the situation.

“Again, we want to use this opportunity to urge leaders of the APC in Ondo state and at the national level to call Governor Aiyedatiwa to order before he destroys the party in the state.

“We also call on all security agencies, including the police and the DSS to ensure the safety of supporters of other aspirants and their properties across the state.

“It is also pertinent for Governor Aiyedatiwa to learn from the story of other fascist leaders in history and how they ended up. A word is enough for the wise.”

Defending the governor, the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers (LACO-FS) through its Director of Information, Kayode Fasua, said the WACO group is only scheming to seize power by any means, playing deceit and lies.

Fasua said there was justification for the manufactured lines against Ayedatiwa, saying it was designed and aimed at whittling down the soaring popularity of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa ahead the party’s primary.

“They are alleging the destruction of their principal’s billboards by political thugs loyal to the governor but display sheer lack of smartness in cooking up the lie.

“For instance, a single proof of identification of where the thugs reside as base, and who their commander is, are never cited in the gale of accusations.

“What is clear to all, however, is that most of the deified billboards under reference appear inferior, suggesting that they were poorly erected and of weak gait”

“Remember that this is rainy season accompanied with whirlwinds, thus justifying the time-tested saying that all pretensions will collapse.

Fasua said that “Rather than drag the good name of Aiyedatiwa into apparent internal dishonesty in their camp, they are best advised to set up a probe panel within their tent, to find out who cut the corners.

He said that “So, Governor Aiyedatiwa deserves apologies from Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation”.

Also, the states Signage and Advertisement Agency, in defense of the governor said in a statement, weekend that “the allegations against governor Aiyedatiwa were false, the advertising agent in charge of the billboards failed to remit to the agency.

The agency in the statement, said that  “The Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Agency responded to the general public on the false allegation against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“It’s a known fact that the Agency is constitutionally responsible for the erection of billboard hoardings and inventories including the annual remittance to the State Government.

“The said billboard structure owned by Global Outdoor Service Limited failed to remit the outstanding 2023 payment.

“Taking into cognizance the political gimmicks applied by our fellow brethren along the corridor of cheap political blackmail during this campaign period is unhealthy and cannot stand the test of time.

“We endear the general public to desist from inhuman and derogatory allegations made against the people’s Governor, His Excellency, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“Hence, we admonish the good people of Ondo State in their civility and polity during this period in a democratic way and shun the reaction that negates the standard and provision necessary in exercising the fundamental human rights of aspirants in good faith.

“To this end, it’s the dutifully bound by the Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Agency to regulate the obligation associated to the use of billboards in the state, especially when a third party fails to comply with the statutory obligations to the State Government”.