Gov Aiyedatiwa: How Many Souls Would Bait Your Desperate Ambition? 

RAHMAN BALOGUN

Yorùbás are rich in words. Each of their idiomatic expressions is loaded with innuendos and words of homily. It is heavily loaded, in meaning, when one hears statement like, ‘Ajá tí yíò ṣọ ‘nù, kìí gbọ́ fèrè ọlọ́dẹ’ (a dog that’s bound to get lost will never hearken to the whistle of the hunter). In some other instance, Yorùbás would say, ‘Àìmọ iṣẹ́ ẹ́ kọ̀ ọmọrogùn níí mún un ti orí bọ omi gbóná’ which literally translates to the narrative that every messenger should apply caution when sent on a dangerous mission. In the current scenario playing out in Ondo State over the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primaries slated for April 20, 2024, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Tayo Oluwatuyi, a.k.a Tukana, may have assumed the role of the arrowhead of the newly recruited killer squad of the desperate Governor Lucky Aiyédatiwa.

Our group can confirm from authoritative sources that the incumbent Governor Aiyédatiwa, sensing imminent defeat in the face of his lacklustre performance in the state, loss of popularity and rejection, both from party members and the public might have resorted into violence to have a field day on the day of the primaries. It was reported that Gov Aiyédatiwa, through his SSG, Oluwatuyi had a meeting, yesterday, Friday, April 5 at the Alágbàká Government House where the latter gave order for 50 thugs (to include motor park touts, street urchins, cult guys) per each of the 203 Wards across the state to carry out a dastardly act on the day of the primaries. This group had it on authority that the instruction to this vampiric group is just one – to attack people, cause mayhem and possibly kill at any Polling Unit/Ward across the 18 Local Government Councils in the State where voting is not in favour of the Governor. The idea is to ensure that the ruling APC does not field any candidate for the November poll if not the desperado.

For us, we would not have taken such planned action by the desperate Aiyédatiwa seriously if not for the fact that the lives of innocent men and women (party members) would be endangered. Not only that, members of the public are not also safe from the nefarious activities of cult gangs. Therefore, it would amount to inhumane disposition from concerned groups and citizens if such alarm is not raised as we now do with this Press Statement.

As a group that believes, very tenaciously, in the rule of law, display of democratic ethos devoid of hooliganism and brigandage as well as upholding of public civility, we consider it imperative to, not only inform the public of the desperate attempts by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyédatiwa to throw the entire State into a situation of higgledy-piggledy, topsy-turvy and wanton destruction, but also call, in strong terms, the attention of all relevant stakeholders, including The Presidency, the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the State Chapter of the APC, all relevant heads of security agencies, and indeed the Royal fathers to an avoidable conflagration in the Sunshine State that has hitherto enjoyed relative peace.

We therefore call on all those who matter to call Governor Aiyédatiwa and his killer squad arrowhead, Hon. Oluwatuyi to order. Ondo State must NOT be turned to a battleground baiting for blood of innocent souls.

Save our land, save our heritage.

Cc
H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

H.E. Dr. Abdullåhi Umar Ganduje, National Chairman, APC

Engr. Ade Adetimehin, Ondo State Chairman Party Chairman, APC

Chief of Defence Staff

Chief of Army Staff

Inspector General of Police

Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps