The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State chapter, has stated that President Bola Tinubu must be held responsible for the casualties and attendant trauma recorded by the ongoing nationwide protest.

The Publicity Secretary of the opposition party in the state, Kennedy Peretei, stated that the protest, which began on August 1, 2024, had left further misery and anguish among citizens across the country.

Kennedy maintained that the protest would have been much more peaceful if the Tinubu-led administration had urgently addressed the agonies of Nigerians in the buildup to the protest.

He said: “As of the last count, more than 17 deaths have been recorded, with hundreds in several health facilities receiving treatment. 24 hours of curfew were declared in Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, and Borno States due to the wanton destruction of public and private properties and lives in the course of the protests.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter, asserts that these protests would have been averted if the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government had been sensitive to the yearning and suffering of the people.

“He should therefore be held responsible for the casualties, the calamity, and the attendant trauma occasioned by these protests.”

While alleging that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa induced some residents of the state to protest, Peretei stated that

“It is indeed a sad reality that the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had to personally dish out cash inducements to some youths, Clergymen, and others from the State Treasury to forestall protests in the state capital, Akure.

“He was later reported to have thanked the people of the state for not joining the protest. What a pity! There is no part of the country that needs the protest more than Ondo State in the face of an administration that has practically grounded the state in every ramification.

“Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is yet to account for the N5 billion that the Federal Government released to all the states as palliatives in the wake of the uproar from Nigerians after the withdrawal of fuel subsidies. The monthly allocation from the Federation Account, which averages N10 billion every month since December 2023, has had no impact on the state. The allocation for last month was N11 billion.

“Aiyedatiwa should stop playing to the gallery and use his remaining few months to touch the lives of the citizens who are truly hungry and angry but, based on their past and recent experiences, prefer to remain at home as a kind of protest.

While reacting to the development, the Director of Publicity of APC in the state, Steve Otaloro, stated that “it is disheartening to see the party’s bitterness towards the peaceful approach taken by the people in the state after consultation with various groups by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“Accusing responsible groups like the clergymen and youth groups of being induced is baseless and absurd. The NANS leadership in Ondo State even went as far as holding a press conference to distance themselves from the protest, yet the PDP continues to make unfounded accusations.

“It is clear that the PDP’s disappointment stems from their failure to incite unrest in Ondo State. Their refusal to participate in the protest shows that even their own members prefer a peaceful resolution over unnecessary chaos.

“The APC in Ondo State stands by the decision of the people to remain peaceful and urges the PDP to respect the choices of individuals and groups in the state. The party’s disregard for the will of the people is concerning and only serves to further divide the community.” (The Guardian)

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