The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Guber candidate in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede has vowed to go defensive after his convoy was attacked by political thugs in an attempt to assassinate him on Wednesday, September 16.
Jegede said “if anything happens to me before and after this election, our people should know who to hold responsible.
Jegede at a Press Conference in Akure said that “the attack on my campaign train at Oba Akoko by suspected APC thugs was a clear attempt to terminate my life.
According to him, the firing of live bullets sporadically at my vehicles by the suspected political thugs confirmed insinuation that some elements want to murder me before the election day.
Eytayo Jegede said that those that fired at his convoy were thugs in the APC campaign vehicle with the governor in the convoy.
He pointed out that he had lodged complaints to all the security agencies and showed pieces of evidence that the thugs in the APC vehicles fired at their vehicles.
“We were scheduled to be in Oba Akoko and we have police approval, the governor’s campaign was supposed to be somewhere in the south.
“We followed all laid down processes required to proceed on peaceful campaigns by the security agencies, and having been duly cleared to proceed on campaigns across Akoko South West Local Government, Gov Rotimi Akeredolu led his convoy our way against the well-established norms for peaceful elections.
“ln all about 15 vehicles were shot at by these thugs who were brandishing pump action. Being in government is not a license to kill. I have never seen this type of desperation in my life.
“We are not violent we are focus on winning this election, we would not be deterred, we will defend ourselves.
“We will win this election, their plan is to instil fear in us, we are the focus, we are courageous. This desperation should be condemned.
“To avoid bloodshed we had to halt the campaign because of the sophisticated weapon brandished by the thugs. There is no reason for a political party to have armed thugs carrying pump-action and firing the same to the opposition.
“Nobody’s life should be at risk. The people’s will be done. We will continue to preach peace.
“We will defend ourselves henceforth. We won’t be cowed or be deterred.”
Mr Eyitayo Jegede was on his way to visit the palace of Oloba of Oba Akoko, in Akoko South West LGA, Ondo State when the governor of Ondo state, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu SAN paid an unscheduled visit to the same location.
Mr. Akeredolu who was seen trying to canvass the people at the venue became angry when his entreaties was rebuffed by the people who responded to his trademark 4+4 hand signal with boos. This angered the governor who allegedly ordered his security details and thugs to disperse the crows that had gathered at the venue. Shots were fired at the PDP candidates vehicles and scores of his supporters were injured as they scampered to safety.
The thugs who went on rampage, fired several shots at the candidates vehicle and tried to burn it down. They proceeded to attacking and harassing residents present while the governor was ensconced in the safety of his bullet proof vehicle.
A response monitored via radio from the media aide of the Governor claimed that the Governor was campaigning in the northern senatorial district even when evidence showed that the APC campaign train was not scheduled to be in that Senatorial district as at when the governor paid this visit to the traditional ruler.
