Ondo: Youths Shut APC Secretariat With Fetish Objects, Call For State Chairman’s Removal

…APC reacts

Unknown youths protesters on Saturday shut down the All Progressives Congress (APC) new State Secretariat, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, with traditional objects such as palm fronds, dead dog and white coffin written with “Adetimehin Must Go”.

The fetish objects were placed at the entrance of the APC Secretariat, located along FUTA road in Akure, which means an embargo on the structure.

Our Correspondent, who went to the party Secretariat, could see the well designed empty coffin and other objects while some security men are around the entrance.

It was gathered that some unknown youths in the party were allegedly behind the incident, calling for the removal of the party’s chairman, Ade Adetimehin because of alleged call for military intervention.

Speaking with newsmen around the Secretariat, the pioneer State Youth leader of the APC, Barr. Babalayo Olutayo, who was at the scene of the incident said that Adetimehin must leave office over various alleged offences.

According to him; “I woke up this morning to learnt that some aggrieved youths across the state went to the new Secretariat to seal-off the place with a lot fetish objects, the place was barricaded, locked with chain and I went there to confirm the incident and I found out that what people said to us was actually the fact.

“What led to the incident was due to some allegations leveled against the incumbent chairman, Ade Adetimehin that he was calling for military takeover and we are yet to know the reasons why he was calling for this.

“Not only that we know that his tenure will come to an end by next year, and if at all he want to leave, we believe that he should leave the party better than where he met it not that he has to destroy the foundation of the party because he is leaving.

“Also, another allegations leveled against him was how he doctored the list of the just concluded governorship election and incoming local government election which we felt that this is not right.

“We believe that as a chairman, if you cannot better the democracy you should leave. You cannot continue to mortgage the life of the people because of your own personal interest. And of course people in the party are accusing him of high handedness, no accountability, and he is not honest.

“So for me, if people are clamoring for his removal or not, the truth is that he has spent his term so he should leave the party peacefully and honourably. He doesn’t need it to be chased out. He is the only one running the affairs of the party, no youth leader, no women leader, there is no party’s secretary, no state legal adviser.”

ONDO APC REACTS

All efforts to speak with Engr Adetimehin proved abortive as his phone number was switched off as at the time of filing this report, but the State Director of Media & Publicity of the party, Steve Otaloro while reacting to the incident said; “I’m aware of the situation and the truth of the matter is that the security agencies have taken control of the Secretariat and we will continue appealing to those that came to shut down the place to be calm.

“Governance is a continuous, everybody will be taking care of, they should be wary of the law, what they are doing is very illegal, bombarding the party Secretariat is not the best. We will continue appeal to them not to take laws into their hands.

“Members who are not happy for now should please calm down and connected and we are making consultation on the situation.”