Dare Babalola
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has distanced himself from the recent attack on the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ade Adetimehin, stating emphatically that he had no involvement in the incident, as the drama unfolded amidst heightened tensions within the party.
The governor, leading party leaders from across the state, attended a stakeholders’ meeting with APC congress committees at the national secretariat, where he attributed the attack to “miscreants” seeking to disrupt the party’s Wednesday ward congresses, implying outside agitators were behind the violence.
Tensions boiled over as party chieftains accused the governor of sending thugs to disrupt the stakeholders‘ meeting, sparking violence that left the state chairman injured and several leaders hospitalised.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Aiyedatiwa said an earlier plan for a 10 a.m. meeting on Tuesday was not finalised; he had requested it to be shifted to 2 p.m. to allow him and other top officials, including the Speaker, attend.
Aiyedatiwa stressed his commitment to due process, denying any hostility towards the congresses, and blamed the violence on factional disputes over candidacy, saying the incident involved rival supporters and was not an officially sanctioned party meeting.
“At about 11 a.m., I got a call from the party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, about a stakeholders’ meeting. I approved it but asked that it be fixed for 2 p.m. because I was attending the 50th birthday of a cabinet member who is also a stakeholder,” he said.
“Normally, stakeholders’ meetings are attended by the governor, the Speaker and the Deputy Governor. This one was impromptu because of the ward and local government congresses.
“Later, I was informed that there were miscreants around the party secretariat. I asked that the Commissioner of Police be contacted, and I also called personally to ensure security was deployed because I was going to attend the meeting. The secretariat was secured before we arrived, and we eventually had a peaceful meeting after the miscreants were chased away.”
Earlier, the Ward Congress Committee, led by Margaret Aruruenu (Chairman) and Smart Iheazor (Secretary), briefed party leaders on preparations for the congresses, assuring that the exercise would be conducted in line with party guidelines and the APC constitution.
Party leaders Tolu Babaleye (North), Ifedayo Abegunde (Central) and Ola Oguntimehin (South) praised the peaceful conduct of the screening exercise.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, commended the congress committees and assured that the exercise would remain peaceful across the state.
