Oyo PDP And APC Again Exchange Words Over Billboard Vandalism

The chapters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state have continued to trade words over allegations of campaign billboards vandalism.

Naija News reports that the latest conflict of the billboard vandalism crisis has happened as the PDP in the state had warned the APC to desist from the destruction of its campaign billboards in the state.

The Oyo PDP, also cautioned the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin against vandalizing the party’s campaign billboards in the state.

Naija News recalled that a similar occurrence happened when a House of Representatives candidate on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Ibadan North East/ Ibadan South East federal constituency, Deji Aboderin decried the destruction of all his campaign billboards in the Oyo State capital.

Aboderin, also claimed that he was sure that the act was deliberate because just at the back of one of his damaged billboards in a particular location in Ibadan was also a campaign billboard of a PDP candidate, Abass Adigun Agboworin, which wasn’t vandalized.

However, Naija News gathered that the Oyo PDP publicity secretary, Akeem Olatunji in a statement explained that politicians need to understand that nobody can obtain political power if God had not ordained it.

While alleging that Folarin’s action was tantamount to a mockery of the nation’s fragile democracy, Olatunju pointed out that “The ruling party had several times appealed to the state Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Williams, to caution Folarin and his political thugs to order following their unabated attacks on PDP billboards and posters before they plunge the state into an avoidable state of public disorderliness.

“The party accused Folarin of being a political machinery and an opportunist who is the architect of the total collapse of the APC in the state by repeating the same dreaded political style similar to a coup d’etat which chased him out of the PDP. The same attitude that leads even the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, to refuse to accept and endorse his 2023 governorship candidacy.

“What Folarin did before, during and after APC state congress and governorship primary elections in terms of unleashing mayhem on his own party members and fellow aspirants such as Bayo Adelabu ‘Penkelemes’ his main challenger, still leaves sore memories and scars of wanton destruction of property in the minds of many.”

Meanwhile, the APC publicity secretary, Olawale Sadare also reacted to the allegation levelled against it by the PDP in the state saying the state Governor Seyi Makinde and his cronies see its governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin, as the biggest threat.

Sadare told Punch that “No serious individual or party would aid Oyo PDP in their shameless attempt to cover up their track as it concerns vandalism of campaign billboards, harassment of opposition members and intimidation of hapless residents of the state. The facts are there and they cannot use any magic or anything to absorb themselves from the uncivilised acts.

“As a progressive party made up of decent people, Oyo APC is not only concerned about the degree of embarrassment which the PDP administration has caused the state in the last 42 months but we also get worried about the recalcitrance of the culprits to turn a new leaf and thus allow the people to nurture the hope of a better future in view of the numerous challenges they face at the moment.

“It is understandable that Governor Seyi Makinde and his cronies see our governorship candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin, as the biggest threat as we face the next general election but we would want to emphasise that it is the good people of the state whose sense of pride, in the hitherto pacesetter status of Oyo, have been eroded on account of clueless governance since 2019 that are saying enough is enough, while we hold the promise of restoration and value addition.

“Therefore, we urge Governor Makinde to quickly come to terms with the inevitable reality of leaving office on May 29, 2019, while we are also appealing to him and Oyo PDP to cease the plans to further heat up the polity for selfish political reasons.

“The issues go beyond destruction of billboards and unprovoked attacks against political opponents, the residents deserve to have their lives and property secure at all times regardless of the political party they belong to or support.”