Akure, the Ondo State capital on Saturday witnessed another mass
protest as people suspected to be members of the Ahmed Makarfi's faction
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged in another demonstration
to protest the recognition of Mr Jimoh Ibrahim as the governorship
candidate of the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).
Members of the PDP led by their chairman, Engr Clement Faboyede and
other political appointees in the state stormed the Deji's palace in
Akure to protest the INEC’s action.
They were also joined by the women in Akure Kingdom who had earlier
shut all markets in Akure metropolis in support of Eyitayo Jegede who is
also an Akure man. The protesters also barricaded major roads in the
town, thereby causing traffic congestion on many roads for several
hours.
The major market closed are: Erekesan Market, Oja Oba, Nepa Market, Isikan Market and Isolo Market.
Speaking at the Deji's palace, the chairman, Engr. Clement Faboyede
pleaded with the Deji and other Obas in the state to intervene before it
will get out of hand
Faboyede said removing Jegede's name on the INEC list will only pave
way for APC to manipulate the governorship election but promised that
the party will confront the situation and make sure that justice is done
before the election.
"We don't want Ondo State to be on fire because our state is peaceful.
Some cabals in the All Progressive Congress (APC) are using Jimoh
Ibrahim against the candidacy of Jegede. Jimoh is not a PDP member but
rather a card carrying member of Accord party.
"Please help us plead with president Buhari and INEC not to set this
state on fire because trouble and violence started in 1983 due to
purported rigging by the then government of the day. They should not
allow this to repeat itself because Ondo state people will never succumb
to this injustice." he said.
Reacting, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, thanked the
protesters for not taking law into their hands during the protest and
also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the crisis
arising from substitution of Eyitayo Jegede with Jimoh Ibrahim as
governorship candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) according to court orders.
Aladetoyinbo also enjoined the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) not to be partisan in handling the issue and correct
any mistake they might have made.
"The judiciary should also intervene and make sure that all parties get
justice because we don't want any injustice and violence in Ondo
State," he said.
The monarch however said he will convey their message to other Obas
in the state and find solution to the problem. He urged them not to
take law into their hands during their protest.
Meanwhile, the Alimodu Sheriff faction of the PDP in the state has
described the closure of all market in Akure as barbaric and uncalled
for saying the move is part of the evil plans of the governor and his
agents to fake and stage manage series of protest against the exclusion
of his godson’s name on the INEC candidates' list published last
Thursday, thereby, deceiving the public that the candidacy of Dr. Jimoh
Ibrahim was rejected by the populace.
The faction in a statement signed by its Director of Media and
Publicity, Yemi Akintomide and made available to newsmen in Akure, the
state capital on Saturday, frowned at what it termed the desperation and
pull-it-down at all cost attitude of Governor Mimiko who sworn on oath
to protect the people and maintain peace and order across the state.