The political landscape in Ondo State has become increasingly volatile following the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) call for President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency due to escalating insecurity.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, PDP’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Leye Igbagbo, accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of failing to protect lives and property in the state, citing a series of violent attacks that have allegedly claimed over 50 lives in recent weeks.
“The Peoples Democratic Party, Ondo State chapter, is alarmed by the ceaseless killings of hapless residents… in a state where there is said to be a valid government in place,” Igbagbo stated. “Governor Aiyedatiwa has indeed failed in his constitutional duty… to secure and protect lives and property.”
The PDP criticized what it described as the government’s lack of response to the killings, stating that there have been no meaningful arrests or prosecutions. It warned that if the trend continued, the state — and the wider southwest — risked becoming “a slaughter-house for incessant spilling of the blood of innocent souls.”
In reaction, the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the opposition’s claims as politically motivated and “conjured from the pit of political bitterness.”
APC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Steve Otaloro, responded: “Such claims are not only unfounded but also reflect a profound misunderstanding of the governor’s dedication to his constitutional obligations.”
He noted that the Aiyedatiwa administration had strengthened local security through the Amotekun Corps and community policing strategies.
“This initiative is not merely a stopgap measure; it is a proactive strategy designed to engage citizens in the collective responsibility of ensuring their safety,” Otaloro added.
He urged the PDP to “embrace a more constructive approach to opposition” and to focus on the welfare of the people rather than “petty squabbles and sensationalism.”