The Governor of Ondo State,
Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has been caught in an audio recording where he threatened
to destroy Ikale land in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that
Akeredolu made the threat at the palace of Abodi of Ikale land, Oba George
Faduyile, where he tongue-lashed the monarch over the communal clash at
Ago-Alaye between the Ikales and the people of Araromi-Obu in Odigbo Local
Government Area of the state.
In the audio recording the governor fumed, “What happened in Ago-Alaye must not repeat
itself and it will not. And if anybody tries it, I’m saying it now, I will
level that place, nothing will happen.
“How? people live with themselves
for years and some people will just start burning down houses. How can we live
like this?
“Kabiyesi, the Deputy Governor
has called you for a meeting twice and you refused to show up. I’ve deployed
security personnel to Ago-Alaye and nobody will be allowed to move until you
(Abodi) curb those perpetrating the atrocities. And if care is not taken it
will be forever. We’ll do it and nothing will happen. This is government.
“How? People will just wake up,
destroy people’s property and maim them, how? How do we do this?
“Even if the whole of Ondo State
belongs to you (Abodi) we’ll chase ourselves over what?
“Kabiyesi, I just felt with all
reluctance to come here. Even when I called you on phone, you said the line was
bad. I got information that meetings were called and you did not come, the
Deputy Governor said it and others came. You claimed to be observing a
traditional festival that forbids you from coming out. If that is true or not,
I don’t want to know about it, because I don’t know about any festival that
will not allow one to come out.
With all respect sir, with due
respect that is why I had to call your son, Dayo who is close to me to call you
to order.
“Today we’re here, the government
must be there to protect the lives and properties of the citizens, no matter
where they are.
We (government) are not scared.
We have said what we wanted to say. On the day of election, if you (Ikales)
wish, don’t give us your votes, no problem about that. And if we lose the
election, we will go back to where we came from. We are not scared. What are we
scared about? Nothing.
“We’re here to serve you people
and when we’re done, we’ll go our own way. It is not a must you like us. We
have nothing to lose. We are not scared of anyone. We say things the way it is.
“Warn your people. Any repeat of
it will get devastating.”
Expressing dismay over the
governor’s outburst, the Jagunmolu of Ikale land, Gen Oluyemi Bajowa (rtd) described
Akeredolu’s attitude at the palace of Abodi as overbearing and as that of
executive rascality.
His words, “I was at the palace
of Abodi of Ikale Land when the Ondo State Governor visited. I was shocked and
horrified at the Governor’s public display and pronouncement of power, devoid
of decency and protocol, by taking the Abodi of Ikale Land and other Ikale
traditional rulers present, to the cleaners. He threatened to instruct the
security services to level to the ground Ago Alaye and other Ikale villages in
Araromi-Obu and its environs; he also threw caution to the wind, by boasting
that he does not need Ikale votes for his re-election!”
Reacting to the development, the
Ondo State Commissioner for Information Donald Ojogo stated that, “It is an
unfair statement if anyone says the Governor is biased in his handling of the
crisis.
“Recall that he visited both
areas and appealed for calm even as he deployed armed security to the affected
conflict zone. That singular act of swift response by the governor stemmed the
crisis, especially as it avoided reprisal attacks from either community.”
For the past three weeks,
Ago-Alaye has been the focal point of clashes between the people of Araromi-Obu
in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state and their Ikale neighbour in
Okitipupa Local Government over the ownership of land after an Ondo State High
Court ruled in favour of the Ikales as the real owners of the disputed land.
The unrest subsequently led to a
24-hour curfew placed on the community by Governor Akeredolu on July 17 in
order to prevent the continued breakdown of law and order.
A panel of enquiry has also been
set up by the governor to look into the July 16 crisis between the Ikales and
the people of Araromi-Obu.
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