Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo West ward 10 on Tuesday took their protest to the state governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa over their inability to access their monthly meeting venue.
Report has it that the members before the preparation for the primary election of Governor Aiyedatiwa in April, 2024 were holding their meetings at a primary school in the town.
One of the members, Hon. Rotimi Olawore who spoke with Precision Online Newspaper in Akure, the Ondo State capital after the protest, narrated how the Women Commissioner, Mrs Lola Fagbemi, who they alleged was not with the Aiyedatiwa’s camp prior to the primary election, wanted them to leave the primary school where they hold their meetings and return to her house.
Hon. Olawore who admitted that they were holding meetings at Mrs Fagbemi’s house before Aiyedatiwa became Governor, added that there have been complaints that the former location was not spacious and that members could be hit by cars due to the nearness to the expressway.
He added that the new venue which is the primary school is more spacious and they got permission for its usage from the educational secretary of the SUBEB in Ondo West, one Mr Bada, before using the venue for meetings.
According to Olawore, problem started when members of the party were to use the primary school venue for an empowerment programme and the Women Commissioner, Mrs Fagbemi in conjunction with the SUBEB chairman, Rt Hon. Victor Olabimtan ordered the closure of the school.
The APC party leader said the protest on Tuesday at the Governor’s office was to call the attention of Governor Aiyedatiwa to the new development.
He said members of the party have always coordinated themselves in peaceful manner whenever meetings are held at the school.
When asked about the outcome of the Tuesday’s protest, Hon. Olawore said the Governor’s Chief of Protocol addressed them about the need to continue to use the meeting venue, as the issue would be resolved.
When contacted, the SUBEB Chairman, Rt Hon. Olabimtan disclosed that the restriction of political activities at the primary school was in order as government properties must be protected.
“Not correct, the meeting of this ward was divided. I invited them to settle there differences and be one. Primary is over and Aiyedatiwa is now for us all. I also told them that pending the time they will settle their differences, they should not hold meeting in the primary school to avoid clash and destruction of government properties.
“I have the right to protect government properties under our care. They can hold their meetings elsewhere not necessarily in the school for now until they are one,” Olabimtan clarified in a terse message.
Mrs Fagbemi when contacted said she was not ready to join issues with the protesting party members, as the APC leadership in the state is already addressing the issue.
Mr Alex Kalejaiye, state publicity secretary of the APC promised to get back to our reporter when contacted to speak on the development.
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