Ondo PDP Youths Ask Akeredolu to Resume or Resign

Fidelis David in Akure

Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Security (DSS) yesterday sealed up the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in Akure, the state capital to prevent a protest by youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are demanding the whereabouts of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who returned to the country on September 7 after his three months medical leave in Germany.

This is just as the protesters have given the state governor 24 hours ultimatum to address the people of the state and a three-day ultimatum to return to the state or resign his position.

Addressing journalists, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Kennedy Peretei alleged that staff of the secretariat were denied access to their offices while the stern-looking officers offered no explanations.

Peretei said: “We were really embarrassed because the security agencies were fully notified because we don’t want a situation where by PDP will be responsible for a breakdown of law and order.”

“But to our ought most shock, we saw security agencies with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and their vehicles with about 400 personnel armed to the teeth at the front of our secretariat.

“However, it took frantic efforts of members of the PDP State Working Committee before the secretariat gate was opened amidst serious tension and confrontation. But as the PDP youths forced themselves into the secretariat, proceeding on a street protest would amount to daring the trigger-happy police to do their worst.

“As much as the officers tried to stop the protest, they failed because the youths displayed their banners and placards to Journalists who gained entrance into the secretariat. I want to use this medium to appeal to the Inspector General of the Nigerian Police and the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command to immediately withdraw their men from our secretariat. We cannot be intimidated by security agents who are paid with taxpayers’ money. We have the right to demand for the whereabouts of the governor if he is missing in action.

According to Peretei, “early yesterday, the APC spokesman in a fear-laden statement accused the PDP of instigating crisis in Ondo State.

“We make bold to say that the presence of the security men is not unconnected with the APC’s fear of its shadow and their failure to get Akeredolu to come to Ondo State for the assignment he was elected for.

“Let it be known to all, that we shall continue to demand  Akeredolu to resume or resign until either is achieved”, he stressed.

He added that, “all we’ve asked for is very simple. Where is Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu? He was elected the Governor of Ondo State, he did a failed four years and the second term is going without result. Even if he’s not going to do anything, let him come to Ondo State. If he’s not capable of ruling again, let him resign honorably. So, we are asking Akeredolu to resign or he resumes,” he said.

A PDP member in the state, Akintade Tayo, said the governor cannot continue to govern the state in proxy, hence the need for the protest and the three-day ultimatum.

“It is no longer gain saying that in the last nine months, there has been vacuum of leadership in Ondo State. Sometimes in April, the people of the state agitated and that led us to having an acting governor. We were also aware of what transpired when Aiyedatiwa was acting in his stead. That isn’t even our problem because it’s an internal issue but since 32 days ago that the governor arrived from his three-month medical leave in Germany, we’ve not seen the governor anywhere near the state.

“And yet, we’ve been hearing of Akeredolu passing bills into law by proxy and this is what informed the protest by the youth wing of PDP in the state. We can no longer continue like this. We are the voice of the people, we are the voice of the masses. We are saying, Mr Governor must resume back to duty, he can no longer govern us by proxy, we can no longer be hearing that he’s one thing or the other when we’ve not sighted him. We know the governor we have, if he’s truly fit, we would have sighted him in the streets of Akure.

“The youth wing of the party is giving Mr Governor the next 24 hours to address the people of Ondo State and we are giving him three days ultimatum resume back to the state. We’ve been seeing series of responses from the APC that the governor will join us in days time. We are giving him three days ultimatum to address us and if he fails, we as the opposition party will occupy the streets of Akure and we will continue to demand that he either resume or resign”, Tayo added.

Meanwhile, Ondo Masses Solidarity Movement (MSM) has accused the embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of being behind the protest by the youth wing of the PDP.

The group in a statement signed by its coordinator, Mr Ogunyemi Jeremiah said the protest was meant to incite crisis in the state and derail the impeachment process of the deputy governor.

“We have it on good authority that the deputy governor instigated the protest and had already sponsored some youths to join the protest. A meeting was held at a hotel in Alagabaka, Akure last night where money was shared among the youths.

“As stakeholders in this state and voice of the masses, we condemn in strong terms, the activities of the embattled deputy governor. We are astonished by the actions of the deputy governor and his resolve to set the state on fire.

“We appreciate the security agencies for rising up to the occasion. We are aware that the protest would have led to wanton destruction of properties and people’s live.”

The group noted that, “Part of the plans which was foiled by the security agencies was that the protesters would set a petrol- filled tanker on fire within the state capital. They had also planned to raze down the House of Assembly complex.

“The planned protest was never in the interest of the masses. The masses are receiving their palliative and also enjoying their thriving sales due to the regular payment of salaries and leave bonus in the state. We are calling on well-meaning Nigerians and people of the state to warn the deputy governor to desist from these attempts to set our dear state on fire. We should learn from history and guide against any act that will bring our state to jeopardy.

“Where were these people when the masses needed a voice? Where were they when we were faced with insecurity and became helpless even in our own homes. Where were they when Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was facing the federal government and speaking for the people of South-west and Southern Nigeria.

“We are convinced that this induced protest is not in the interest of the masses. We will not fold our arms and allow a group of people who were motivated by few cash to interrupt the relative peace in the state”, MSM added.