• You do not have monopoly of violence, Ajayi to Akeredolu

• Asks President Buhari to call Akeredolu to order

The Deputy Governor of Ondo State and the Candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (PDP), Hon Agboola Ajayi has condemned the high rate of violence in the State ahead of next week governorship election.

Also, Ajayi condemned the two assassination attempts on lives of some of the chieftains of the ZLP ahead of the governorship election.

Ajayi recalls that apart from the physical attacks, vandalism and destruction of properties and intimidation of political opponents by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, two chieftains of his party, the ZLP, had graciously escaped assassination attempts on their lives within 24hours.

A statement by Babatope Okeowo, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, said a chieftain of the ZLP in Ilaje local government had on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, miraculously escaped an attempt by some miscreants alleged to be APC members who plotted to assassinate him.

According to Okeowo, another chieftain of the party, and a former SSA to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Mr Andrew Ogunsakin, who had since joined the ZLP, on Wednesday, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on his life at Alagbaka in Akure, Ondo State Capital.

While condemning the continuous act of violence, majorly perpetrated in Akure South, Akoko South-East, Idanre, Owo and Akoko South West, Ajayi called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police, and the good people of Ondo State to hold Governor Rotimi Akeredolu responsible if there is any assassination of innocent souls before, during and after the governorship election in Ondo State.

“The act of thuggery, violence and assassination attempts on members of the opposition parties in Ondo State is borne out of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu desperation to remain in power even when he knew that his poor performance can not earn him a second term.”

“It is still very fresh how some thugs working for the ruling APC killed a member of our party in Idanre without any arrest till date despite the complaints that these assailants were freely walking on the streets of Ondo State and these criminals were always seen in one of the campaign vehicles following the governor to political rallies.”

“I can’t recall the number of times our campaign offices in Akure, Idanre and in other local governments of the state were attacked. Just within 24 hours, two of our party chieftains miraculously escaped the assassination attempts on their lives by suspected APC thugs.”

“While reminding the governor that nobody has the monopoly of violence, I want to call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police, and the good people of Ondo State to hold Akeredolu responsible if there is any case of assassination in Ondo State whether before, during, and after this election, Ajayi said.”