The Network of Civil Society Organisation has implored aspirants, supporters and political parties in Ondo State, to play by the rules ahead of the November governorship election.
Briefing newsmen Friday in Abuja, the CSO’s National Coordinator, Victor Kalu, decried the looming unrest in the state especially in the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the perceived silence of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Kalu said the governor, as a matter of urgency, must arrest those fomenting trouble, adding that the state should not be allowed to slide into anarchy.
Aside calling on the national leadership of the APC to intervene, he charged security personnel to fish out the perpetrators of violence and prosecute them.
He said: “Having successfully concluded our assessment on the political situation in Ondo State after the sudden and very painful death of the former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State which opened a new political era in the state following the Constitutional takeover of power by his Deputy Lucky Ayedatiwa as the new Governor of the State.
“As various political parties in the State brace up to elect their governorship candidate for the forthcoming Governorship election in the state, it is expected that the political situation will be tensioned especially within the ruling All Progressives Congress where the power of incumbency insisting on a preferred candidate/successor is not playing out.
“Based on our findings, we wish to state very categorically as thus: In Ondo State, the peaceful political environment and the height of political tolerance across party line before, during and after any election in the State for the past 16 years was a reference point for other states.
“But this is about to change following the sudden reintroduced of Agbero/thugs – Garage politics (politicians) to the state, causing widespread concern among party members in particular and the entire citizens at large.
“The political system especially within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state has been regarded as the best in the country, but the recent introduction of violent and intimidating looking thugs within and around the State Secretariat of the Party in Akure and in some Local Government Party Secretariats, is not only worrisome on the security of party officials and staff but also the safety of the entire state is in doubt.
“We are worried about the Governor’s cold attitude towards arresting the gradual return of insecurity in the state within this few month he took over as the Governor of the State following the death of his master the Former Governor.
“We therefore call on the various security agents to thoroughly investigate and bring to book the person or group of persons in charge of recruiting, training and deployment of thugs to all the nook and crannies of the state at this critical time the parties are planning their primaries to elect their flag bearer ahead of the November Governorship election.
“This is a developing story that needs to be closely monitored. If not checked, garage politics could return to the state, causing untold damage to the state’s development and progress as citizens are calling for more decisive action to ensure the state’s peace and stability.
“The National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abuja needs to call the Governor following the recent fights in the party.
“Finally, we appeal to all the aspirants especially in the ruling APC including the Governor to put the interest of the people first and above personal and selfish political interest of governing the state by all means.”
