The division within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) played out on Monday in Akure, the Ondo state capital, following the disruption of a planned media parley slated to hold at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Center, Akure, the State capital.
Two groups within the party invaded the NUJ Press Centre, Alagbaka as early as 8 am with the group who came to address journalists on the political development in the state, blocking the road leading to the press center with canopies and chairs, while journalists were also prevented from gaining entrance into the premises.
However, some 2000 motorcycle operators also invaded the venue with their motorcycles, forced their way into the venue to prevent the press conference from being held, only to meet the hall under lock and key.
It took the intervention of NUJ leadership to prevent physical clash by locking the hall and turning back the group billed to hold the press conference after about three hours
The media parley was suspended while the organizers of the event left the venue with their supporters when it dawned on them that clash between the two groups was imminent
However, the group, Ondo Liberation Initiative (OLI) in the press statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr. Alabi Johnson, called for peace in the state, asking politicians in the state to drop the impeachment process against Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the state to move forward
Alabi said the group is a coalition of over 50 organisations spread across the 18 Local Government areas of the State, working on empowering the youths, women, and children, conflict resolution, peace-building, economic advancement and sustainable development of the State and Nigeria at large.
Alabi who expressed the organisation’s concerns over the state of health of the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, lamented that the governor has been caged by his immediate member of his family and his aides.
According to him, Akeredolu had been prevented from accessing quality health care abroad because of reasons best known to them.
He said: “As for us who are stakeholders in the state, we feel that Aketi should not be made to suffer this much, having done much for our dear state.
“We do not wish him dead. We wish that he can continue to sustain his policies which have been remarkable in not only Ondo State but the entire South West region of Nigeria.
“Consequently, we call on all well-meaning Nigerians to shout out loud, intervene and rescue him from this perceived captivity. Akeredolu should not be allowed to die the way he is being caged.
“However, the concept we are here to showcase today is “Rescue yourself”. It is now evidently clear that every citizen of this state needs to rescue him/herself from poverty, impoverishment, economic hardship and political hardship.
“As a matter of fact today we wish to canvass for the rescue of our Governor from the handlers who have deliberately caged him to remain in one position for their selfish interest at the expense of his ill health.
“We all know that when anyone is sick as our Governor is now, he remains at the mercy of whoever is managing his health. As it is now, we perceive that our Governor is very ill and at the mercy of these handlers.
“Nobody has access to him! Nobody has seen him in any public place since his claimed resumption of office. This is why our concept becomes necessary in Ondo.
“Ondo government needs to be rescued; the people need to be rescued by embracing Government policies that can eradicate poverty. Aketi needs to be rescued and taken out for better medical care. The Governor is no longer a private person but a public officer.”
The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to as a matter of urgency intervene in rescuing Akeredolu and take him abroad for good medical care.
The group also hailed the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje over his timely intervention in the crisis between the governor and his deputy, following the constitution of a reconciliation Committee set up by the National Secretariat, saying the intervention is to ensure peace within the ruling party in the State.
. TheWitness
