The Accord Party gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has tasked the police and other security agencies to ensure that justice is done so that the two Accord Party supporters would not die in vain. Two Accord Party supporters were killed by suspected thugs at Odinjo at a rally of the party in the area. Speaking with journalists after paying visit to UCH and orthopaedic centre where eight members of Accord members seriously injured with gun wounds were being attended to, said his party would never again tolerate any violence against its supporters.
The police have so far arrested eight persons. Ladoja, who assured that his party men would not take law into their hands but will wait on the law enforcement agents to ensure that all aggressors and their sponsors are arrested and dealt with. Ladoja, who alleged that some of the thugs arrested by the police were picked up at the house of APC chairman in Ward 8 southeast, Jide Akintola, wondered why the thugs should seek refuge in his house if they were not sponsored by APC members.
While asking Governor Ajimobi not to grant security to his party alone, Ladoja said that recent events has vindicated Accord position that APC has violence instinct. As a party of the masses, Ladoja said no amount of threat and violence will stop the people of Oyo State from sending the incumbent Ajimobi out of the government house. While saying the Odinjo event was a meeting and not rally as previously published in the media, Ladoja said the game is over for Ajimobi at the Agodi Government House.
“We do not think that is will have any setback on our campaign. Our party is a masses party. The people have made up their minds to vote for Accord and they cannot be deterred they cannot scare us. I thank the security agencies for given me protection whenever I am going out on campaigns. “Odinjo is notorious up to the area of the NURTW state chairman.
The other time they said we should not come out to campaign. I cut short my holiday because of this dastardly act. It is not acceptable to us and we have told all the security agencies that we shall not tolerate violence against our people. And that the security agencies should ensure that justice is done. Oyo State that prides itself on security is talking about selective security.
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The governor should wake to his responsibilities and get serious about the job of governance,” Ladoja said. “One of those arrested said he is a mercenary for continuity. Three of those arrested were picked up from the house of the APC chairman Ward 8. So what does that tell you? This is not good for our politics and policy. How can a sane person shoot his fellow man that was hapless? It is barbaric and totally uncalled for. The governor should not provide selective security for his party men alone and allow others to die. He should know that the entire state is his constituency and all the people must be protected. The governor has been making the noise that he has restored security to the state but we can now see the source of violence and the aggression is directed at the opposition. “The governor cannot say he did not know about it because it was done by his party.
This is why we oppose the use of NURTW vehicles for the election because it is the present government that is using them. If they do not have backing they will not carry guns in the afternoon and start shooting. Three members were caught in the house of APC chairman. Who sent them? Is his house the only
one in the area? People are holding meeting and you went to slaughter them. We appeal to the police to ensure that justice is done. Is it by force that the people should vote for you?” he further said.
