The Ondo State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state government have traded words over the refusal of the state government to grant the use of Government Field in Ore, Odigbo local government area of the state for the defection of immediate past Commissioner for Water Resources, Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju, to PDP.
PDP alleged the state government of deploying security operatives to disperse supporters of Adeyanju and the party leaders at the defection ground, but the state government characterized the allegation as a futile attempt to blackmail the state governor.
PDP through its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei condemned the directive of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to deny PDP the use of Government Field Ore to receive Adeyanju into the party.
Peretei said: “As preparations were on top gear for the event, the Area Commander arrived to disperse leaders and party supporters as directed from above.
“There is no doubt, Akeredolu is jittery that his party, APC, having performed very woefully will be disgraced at the 2023 general elections. This level of high-handedness and abuse of public office will not high-handedness his party from failure.
“Our party advises Mr Governor not to allow his fears about failure to becloud his reasoning, as this will consume him. Government Field, Ore does not belong to him but the people of Ondo State.”
Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Richard Olatunde said Governor Akeredolu knows nothing about the alleged refusal of the use of the field.
Olatunde said Governor Akeredolu doesn’t run the local government councils for the executive chairmen but has the utmost respect for the local council tier of government.
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Olatunde further disclosed that the reports from the Local Government Chairman indicated that the PDP didn’t inform the council of their intention to use the venue today.
“It is most illogical for the PDP to raise the false alarm even when it is aware that it has failed to follow due process on the use of the venue.
“This failed blackmail is another calculated attempt by the PDP to seek undue attention. Governor Akeredolu is busy with the business of government and will not be distracted by the attention-seeking gimmick of the PDP.
“The fruitless attempt to blackmail Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, by the PDP is a missed goal.”
Speaking on the controversy, Adeyanju stated that the venue for formal declaration was denied after she had paid the necessary fees to the state government.
She alleged that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ore Division disperse her supporters and party leaders from the Government Field in the town after writing letters to all the security agencies only for
She further stated that she would not be deterred as the country would not continue under the rudderless government of APC both at the state and federal levels.
Recall that Adeyanju who resigned her appointment as Commissioner after she was moved from Water Resources to Regional and Urban Planning ministry defected from APC with her supporters numbering about 3,500 in Ore.
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