ALLEGATIONS that the Ondo State’s Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi shunned a debate organized by the Nigerian Election Debate Group were debunked on Thursday by the Mimiko Campaign Organization, the group in charge of Governor Mimiko’s campaign for a second term in office as governor of Ondo State.
According to a press statement issued by the campaign organization’s director of publicity and media relations, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, the deputy governor did not deliberately shun the debate. Instead, unfavorable security reports hinting at violence by the opposition informed his absence from the event.
“We have since been justified by the high level of indecency, foul languages and brazen hooliganism displayed by supporters of the oppositions at the venue.
“Indeed, it was sad that for this display of lack of decorum from a people whose stock in trade are attacks and bare-faced lies, Ondo state earned a public excoriation from the Chairman of the Group, Aremo Taiwo Alimi who publicly condemned what he termed as highest level of indiscipline and hooliganism displayed at the debate by the members of the opposition.
“Indeed, he had stated that the development was the worst exercise they have had since the group started the debate in 1999. Alimi had called on security agencies to watch out during the election given the terrible occurrence.
“The LP was aware of such plans and that was why our Deputy did not turn up and not for any other reasons as the opposition tried to adduce all in their desperation to get at us.
While assuring that the LP was ever ready to give accounts of its stewardship to the people of the State which it is already doing by embarking on vigorous campaign exercises to the electorate all over the State, it called on security agencies in the State to be abreast of events, arrest those who have in the last few months brought an unprecedented level of violence and brigandage on the people saying that Ondo State was peaceful before they imported their do-or-die syndrome into the State.
The Mimiko Campaign Organization equally warned that the era of political thuggery, ballot snatching and intimidation of the electorate was over as the security agencies were on top of the situation and would deal with anybody found contravening the law with fear or favour.