Controversy trails alleged thugs attack on Atiku’s campaign office in Ondo

Hoodlums suspected to be members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo State on Wednesday attacked the campaign office of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar in Akure, the Ondo state capital. It was gathered that the suspected thugs, scaled the fence of the campaign office located beside the Federal College of Agriculture within Ijapo area in Akure around 2 am and vandalized the billboards, banners and posters of the PDP presidential candidate. The Personal Assistant to the State Coordinator of the Atiku Presidential Campaign, Olumide Ogunkua, confirmed the attack to journalists in Akure, the state capital. Ogunkua noted that the hoodlums upon entering the compound of the campaign office began to chant the APC slogan of “Next Level” and destroying the posters bearing Atiku /Obi for 2019. He explained that the security guard who was at the premises during the attack was molested, beaten and tied up by the hoodlums for challenging their mission in the PDP campaign office. “We got a call from one of our sympathizers that the new billboards, banners and posters in front of our campaign office have been vandalized. “Upon receiving the call, we arrived at the office and we saw that the all the banners and posters of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had been removed while some were defaced. “Upon entering the premises, we discovered that the security guard was tied up and his two phones were taken away. “When we inquired from him what really happened, he told us that he heard people destroying the banners and he shouted but the hoodlums scaled through the fence and held him hostage before they continued to perpetrate their dastardly act. “For us, it indicates the desperation of the ruling party (APC). According to the security guard, the hoodlums were shouting the next level when they were destroying the bill boards and banners. “This is unacceptable, we call on the appropriate authorities to put a stop to these unwarranted attacks because if not it will put a threat to the peaceful conduct of the general election come February 2019. “But for us, we’re undeterred, we’re determined, but their action shows that our presidential candidate (Atiku Abubakar) is giving them headache. “The presidential campaign council of Ondo State has taken it up, we’ll write the Inspector General of Police, the Director of SSS to formally report this act.” In his reaction, the APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Alex Kalejaiye condemned the attacked but denied the allegations. Mr. Kalejaiye stated that the APC government does not discriminate irrespective of political affiliation. “We are so confident of our victory come February 2019, so we won’t have any reason whatsoever to attack any party or their facilities. “The state government under the APC controls a signage agency that moderates the activities of setting of billboards which is the signage agency and it collects revenue. “So, why do you think we would now sponsor anyone or group to destroy what brings in revenue in the state government’s purse. “We would never encourage such. If anybody is pointing accusing finger at the APC, the person is doing it out of either frustration or ignorance” he said. Femi Joseph, the Ondo State Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, when contacted said the incident occured at the Ijapo divsion of the command but was yet to be reported to police in the state. Adewale Momoh, Akure