The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State on Saturday claimed that Governor Olusegun Mimiko has coerced the Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo (Odundun II) to close all major markers in Akure metropolis and incite traders and market women to protest half naked in the State.
The party said the planned action was over the replacement of the Governor's stooge, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) with that of Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim on the candidates list of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the November 26, 2016 Governorship poll in the state.
It said the latest move was part of the evil plans of the governor and his agents to fake and stage-manage series of protest against the exclusion of his godson's name on the INEC candidates' list published last Thursday, thereby, deceiving the public that the candidacy of Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim (CFR) was rejected by the populace.
"The purported closure of markets and protest by traders slated for today (Saturday) was planned as a follow up to the charade and show of shame by a section of members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and few miscreants in Akure on Friday, who took to the streets, burning tyres on highways and major roads which lasted for only few hours without any effect on the commercial and other activities in the metropolis", the PDP said in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Yemi Akintomide.
It frowned at "the desperation and pull-it-down at all cost attitude of Governor Mimiko who swore on oath to protect the people and maintain peace and order across the state.
"We're also aware that Governor Mimiko went to the extreme by blackmailing our royal father (Deji of Akure), banishing a court case filed against his installation barely a year ago by the deposed monarch, Prince Adesina Adepoju; and forcing the monarch to do his biding by calling the women to protest half naked on Oba Adesida road.
"We call on human right groups, women professionals, women groups, faith based organisations and civil society groups to rise against this unholy action of ridiculing, disparaging and dis-humanising the dignity and sanity of womanhood, all in the name playing destructive politics that will do nobody any good.
"We are appealing to our resourceful market women, darling wives, beautiful sisters and brilliant ladies to shun any act capable of jeopardising their hard earn, long standing family names and core values; and not to dishonour and disrespect their dignified bodies to march half naked in exchange for any amount of money not worth the pride of their womanhood.
"We urge Governor Mimiko to toll the line of peace by pursuing the case against Jegede in the appellate courts as demanded by the Constitution, being a product of court of law himself when the Appeal Court that sat in Benin-City, enthroned him as governor and sacked the incumbent, late Olusegun Agagu in it judgment delivered on February 23, 2009.
"We use this medium to commend and salute the professional conduct of our security agents and their proactive and rapid response in discharging their duty during the drivers' union nuisance act yesterday, which immediately returned peace and normality to the city; we also urge them not to rest on their oasis by ensuring nobody, no matter how highly placed, further disrupted the relative peace we have been enjoying in our state."
