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It has come to our attention that the recently organised party primaries of the APC in Owo local government (the home of incumbent GovernorRotimi Akeredolu SAN) was scuttled due to the rejection of the governors anointed candidate by the majority of party members in that local government, who were hellbent on resisting the undemocratic practices of the governor in foisting his own “Yesmen” on his party. This amongst many other actions, shows the peoples resolve to reject a government and party that has proven itself selfish, self seeking, undemocratic, unproductive and at best divisive and nepotistic.
While we do not wish to be bothered about the already evidenced decay of unity within the APC, we are however concerned and deeply troubled by the alleged use of ANOTEKUN operatives under the watch of the Commissioner for Justice in the scuttling of the party primaries in Owo local government, as witnessed by members of the APC who reported this. Such an action (if true) spells huge danger for the SouthWest and our collective desire to ensure that we have a security system that protects our people without political affiliation and partisan inclinations.
The use of AMOTEKUN operatives who allegedly shot into the air to scatter the primaries, shows that the Akeredolu-led APC has been deeply insincere in its intrinsic objective in supporting the South West Security Initiative. We therefore call on the Governors of the South West to immediately probe the deployment of regional security operatives in an election matter.
We also would like to demand an immediate investigation of the deployment of these operatives and demand that those involved in this callous and very objectionable act be fired and prosecuted accordingly.
While we all collectively seek the strengthening of our Democracy through the promotion and support for free, fair, open and transparent electoral processes, we must however state that such acts will only worsen our Democracy and further create a reason for contestants in elections to resort to violence in protecting their mandate.
We put the Akeredolu-led APC government on notice that any deployment of AMOTEKUN operatives in any election will be the beginning of the failure of that well accepted initiative and it shall be on record for future generations to judge. As a party, we will not fold our hands in the desire to ensure that our Democracy succeeds and will resist any attempt by Akeredolu and his party to scuttle what we have tirelessly worked for.
We also demand that the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission immediately explain to the citizens of the South West, why AMOTEKUN operatives were allowed to be deployed by the Ondo State APC without recourse to laid down standard operating procedures. The Commission should also be deeply concerned that this allegation seemingly justifies the rumor that the APC in Ondo state has been recruiting its party members and apologists into this security initiative for a clandestine purpose, as seen in this Owo primaries.
Finally, let it be on record that we will firmly resist any attempt to destroy the AMOTEKUN initiative (which we as stakeholders in the development of our state, region and nation have supported) by the selfish and self seeking political opportunists in power, not just now but at the polls. We will not fold our hands and watch people who have not shown a dedication to the welfare of their people, steal democratically given mandates using state apparatus. Any attempt to use AMOTEKUN to scuttle any election will herald its doom.
