Security personnel ready for thugs in Ondo —Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan
| credits: nigerianbulletin.com

 

President Goodluck Jonathan has warned thugs and their sponsors to steer clear of Ondo State next Saturday as the Federal Government has resolved to ensure that no form of rigging or violence occurs during the governorship election.

Jonathan stated this in Akure on Saturday while addressing Peoples Democratic Party supporters at the Democracy Park Akure, venue of the final state rally for the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke.

The President said, “I learnt that some people are bringing in thugs to Ondo for the election. Let me assure you that the federal government will not allow such things.

“There are enough security men that would ensure that thugs will not come out on that day. So, if your child or ward would be used on that day as thugs, take them away because we won’t tolerate rubbish on that day.

“No thug will come out on that day. Nobody will frustrate our efforts to project the image of Nigeria positively in the comity of nations. We are committed to a free and fair election and determined to get rid of any form of thuggery.

“We will ensure one-man, one-vote; One-woman-one vote and one youth-one vote in next Saturday’s election.”

Jonathan described the people of Ondo as ‘very lucky’ because they have two major resources that are revenue-earning.

He said, “The PDP loves Ondo State and wants to assist it to grow. The state is blessed with crude oil and cash crops. The federal government is working towards making the farmers in this state rich.”

The Vice-President who is also the Chairman of the National Campaign Committee of the PDP, Namadi Sambo, commended the president for keeping to his promises of a free and fair election.

The Party’s National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, said the president, vice-president and the National Working Committee came to Ondo to show their support for Oke.

At the behest of the president, Tukur handed Oke the party’ flag, which he said, symbolised their support for him.

He said, Oke would go to the Government House with it when he wins the election.

Tukur said, “When our president visited the Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, he prayed for us. May God answer the prayer. Seeing the president, VP, Senate President, NWC, you know that the PDP is with Oke.

“I want to draw your attention to this tall, great handsome fellow; I want you to vote for him. One-man, one vote; one woman, one vote; one youth, one vote, in Oke’s favour,” he stated.

Senate President, David Mark, said based on his familiarity with elections, “If all the youths vote for us, we would win. I am familiar with election and it is the youths and women that help to win.

“The mistakes of the past would be corrected from October 20.”

The former governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, said the presence of the PDP national leaders in the state meant that state’s PDP had strong support.

The PDP candidate, Oke, commended the party leaders for demonstrating their support for him, and described his emergence as the beginning of transformation of the state.

He said, “This is the beginning of the transformation of the state. We will suffer no more, the people will rejoice again. I assure you that victory is ours.”

Some of those who attended and spoke at the event included: Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state; his counterpart in Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson; Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Dr. Kema Chikwe, among others.