PDP kicks as Aiyedatiwa declines use of Democracy Park for campaign

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State chapter, has lashed out at Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for allegedly denying the party the use of the iconic Democracy Park in Akure, the state capital, for its campaign flag-off ahead of the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in the state.

The PDP disclosed that successive administrations in the state, in particular the erstwhile boss of Aiyedatiwa, the late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had never disapproved any opposition parties usage of public facilities.

The party had scheduled its campaign flag-off to take place on Tuesday in Akure, the state capital, with the popular Democracy Park, which used to host public events, pegged as a venue

The opposition party, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity of the Agboola Ajayi Campaign Organisation, described the action of the governor as petty and pedestrian.

PDP, however, vowed to flag-off its campaign in Akure metropolis but failed to disclose that venue that will be used with an appeal to residents of the city to bare the party the inconveniences that may occur due to what was described as the “indecorous” action of Aiyedatiwa.

Fadaka said, “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 the government for the use of the Democracy Park, the usual arena that mandatorily hosts 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 past 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.”