Ondo state governor and candidate of the All Peoples Congress (APC), in the scheduled gubernatorial election in Ondo state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has denied opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s ( PDP), the use of the Democratic Park, being the proposed venue for it’s campaign flag off.
According to a statement issued in the state’s capital city, Akure, on Friday, by the Director , New Media of the Ondo PDP Gubernatorial Campaign Council, Sam Ogunmusi, the state governor stopped the initial tacit approval given the PDP, to use the Akure located Democracy Park as the designated venue, for the campaign flag off slated for the 15th of this month.
Decrying the decision of the governor, the Director , New Media of the Campaign Organization described the decision as petty, provocative and a deliberate attempt to unnecessarily create political tension in the state.
Insisting that the governor’s decision is unacceptable, Ogunmusi explained that the PDP gave the state government adequate notice of it’s desire to use the Democratic Park, adding that, an approval was given while details of the financial implication of the use of the ground was also given.
He said a twist was introduced into the transaction, when the PDP attempted to pay for the venue today .
” Request for the use of the venue was given well in advance of the usage date.
“Approval was given and it was at the point of paying for the use of the facility earlier today, that the party was told that the governor has ordered that the venue should not be made available to us for use and no cogent reason was given for this unfortunate decision” the statement read in part.
Submitting that the governor has no right to deny the PDP access to the state’s common property, the statement further said ,it is ironic,that an APC candidate is denying the PDP the use of a property he has no bragging right upon adding that ” the governor should have asked for the story of the park before giving the unfortunate order he gave because he is being intimidated by the soaring popularity of our candidate.
” The Democracy Park is the state’s property, it does not belong to the APC. That the governor is intimidated by the overwhelming acceptance of the PDP candidate, ahead of the November 16 election is no good reason to want to stifle the opposition in the state”
Insisting that ” Ondo state had always been a peaceful place, where everyone cohabit in peace, irrespective of political and religious differences” the New Media Director thus “called on all peace loving citizens of the state, especially our elders, to prevail on the governor to rescind his decision and make the Democratic Park available for the PDP as requested”
The statement concluded that “nothing should jeopardize the peace in the state, ahead of the crucial election our people are anxiously waiting for so as to put off the garment of pain the incumbent put on them”
