Aiyedatiwa, Akinterinwa camps clash over billboards destruction claims

The Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation, on Sunday, raised the alarm over the destruction of the billboards of its principal, Wale Akinterinwa, by suspected political thugs.

This is coming a few weeks before the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress, which has been fixed for April 25, 2024.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Akinterinwa are among the governorship aspirants contesting for the party’s ticket.

In a statement by the spokesperson of the Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation, Mr Segun Ajiboye, the group called on the governor to call his supporters to order to stop the attacks on their billboards .

However, the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers, through its Director of Publicity, Mr Kayode Fasua, denied the allegation, describing it as falsehood and a bid to drag the name of the governor in the mud.

WACO recalled that many of Akinterinwa’s billboards were allegedly destroyed by Aiyedatiwa’s supporters during the visit of President Bola Tinubu to the state in February and that the governor promised to look into the matter.

It noted that nothing had been done, and none of the perpetrators was arrested .

It said, ” Recall that we equally raised the alarm back in February when the governor’s thugs unleashed mayhem on the people during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the family of the late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. While the governor vowed to bring to book those behind the heinous attacks, it is not surprising that nothing has been heard of the case since.

“The actions of the governor and his thugs have continued to bring the name of our great party into disrepute, while other political parties in the state stand by the sideline watching and plotting how to exploit the situation.

“Again, we want to use this opportunity to urge leaders of the APC in Ondo State and at the national level to call Governor Aiyedatiwa to order before he destroys the party in the state. We also call on all security agencies, including the police and the DSS, to ensure the safety of supporters of other aspirants and their properties across the state.”

Fasua, in his own statement, said WACO was lying in order to discredit the governor, asking Akinterinwa’s campaign group to do their investigation properly on the matter

He said, “They are alleging the destruction of their principal’s billboards by political thugs loyal to the governor but display sheer lack of smartness in cooking up the lie.

“For instance, a single proof of identification of where the thugs reside as base, and who their commander is, are never cited in the gale of accusations.

“What is clear to all, however, is that most of the deified billboards under reference appear inferior, suggesting that they were poorly erected and of weak gait. Remember that this is a rainy season accompanied by whirlwinds, thus justifying the time-tested saying that all pretensions will collapse.

“Rather than drag the good name of Aiyedatiwa into apparent internal dishonesty in their camp, they are best advised to set up a probe panel within their tent, to find out who cut the corners.”