Disapproving Democracy Park for campaign: Ondo is unlucky to have a worse variant in saddle – PDP
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state, the All Peoples Congress (APC) candidate in the November 16 governorship election, has denied opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) the use of the Democratic Park, Akure, the proposed venue for it’s campaign flagoff.
A statement by Ayo Fadaka, Special Adviser, Media/Publicity, Ondo PDP Gubernatorial Campaign Council, said Aiyedatiwa stopped the initial approval given the party to use the Democracy Park for its the campaign flagoff slated for Tuesday, October 15.
Fadaka described the decision as petty, provocative and a deliberate attempt to unnecessarily create political tension in the state.
He said that the governor’s decision was unacceptable as the PDP gave the state government adequate notice of it’s desire to use the Democratic Park, adding that, an approval was given while details of the financial implication of the use of the ground was also given.
The statement titled “Our campaign flagoff and Aiyedatiwa’s pettiness” read:
“We wish to bring to the notice of the good people of Ondo State that our Campaign Flagoff is slated for the 15th of October 2024.
“In view of the above, we applied to Government for the use of the Democracy Park, the usual arena that mandatorily host such events and the Aiyedatiwa administration has decided to deny the PDP the use of the Park, the first time ever any administration will prosecute such a cheap and petty goal.
“To say we did not anticipate this pedestrian action, will only indicate that we have not taken deep cognisance of the indecorous approach of Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa to governance.
“We recall that in years late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was in power, not once was any political Party denied use of public space, that was a statesman, now Ondo State is unlucky to have a worse variant in its saddle, this degeneracy must be taken care of.
“We, however, declare that we are going to hold our Campaign Flagoff in Akure, as people from across the State and nation will grace the event, we regret whatever inconvenience our gathering may have and apologise in advance, however please note that the irresponsibility of the pedestrian government is the cause.
“We however wish to pointedly underscore the fact that once a fire is set, there is no hiding the flames, the PDP is set for this election and we will win, no cheap, petty and pedestrian attitude will stop that.”