TheCable

The campaign organisation of Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of Ondo state, has denied the alleged attack on supporters of Wale Akinterinwa, a governorship hopeful of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akinterinwa, a former commissioner in the state, alleged that the governor’s loyalists attacked his supporters and destroyed his campaign billboards.

In a petition to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, the governorship aspirant asked the security agencies to probe an alleged attack in Ore, Odigbo LGA of the state.

“These thugs have continued to drag the name of our great party in the mud in the state, while other political parties in the state stand and mock the follies going on in Ondo APC,” he said.

“Like in our earlier calls, we 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.

“It is regrettable that despite our calls to the police and the DSS to ensure the safety of supporters of other aspirants and their properties across the state, the one-sided attacks and destruction have continued.

“We are, therefore, using this latest opportunity to call on the commissioner of police and the director of the state security service in Ondo State to be proactive and put measures in place to forestall any further attack on the people by thugs working for Governor Aiyedatiwa.

“However, going forward, as good citizens of this wonderful state, we want to advise Governor Aiyedatiwa to use all the energies he dispenses trying to bring down other aspirants to provide verifiable answers to the alleged certificate forgery case dogging his footsteps.”

Akinterinwa said Aiyedatiwa should stop “this ugly game of shame” and intimidation of other aspirants.

However, in a rebuttal, Kayode Fasua, director of information of the campaign for Aiyedatiwa, said the allegation is an attempt to “disparage the irresistible popularity of the governor”.

“The fact of the matter remains that we require evidence to prove that their fathomed thugs who are better conjectured as goblins or gnomes, are from Aiyedatiwa,” Fasua said.

“They are as unserious as their allegation. Any thug spotted destroying their billboard should be reported to the police, rather than distract a hardworking governor.”