Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
The South-west zone of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) yesterday called on Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, to stop wasting taxpayers’ money on fighting opposition in the state most especially the NNPP.
This is just as it urged him to invest his energy in activities that have the potential of bringing the state out of what it described as its five years of socio-economic stagnation.
The Zonal Secretary of the party, Dr. Babatunde Oke, in a statement made available in Ibadan, said the 1999 Constitution of the country gives room for the existence of opposition parties in Nigeria.
He added that it is absurd for a sitting governor like Abiodun to be spending heavily on the deployment of security agents against NNPP and its teeming members in Ogun State.
According to him, “It was reliably gathered that Ogun State governor is behind the invasion of our party’s state secretariat located at Fajol House, beside Access Bank, Car wash, Adatan, Abeokuta by security agents. I personally went to the state Command of the Police and the DSS to lodge complaints and made explanations and clarifications, all of which entered the deaf ears of the security agents.
“No soothsayer is needed to know that the security agents are acting the script of Governor Dapo Abiodun. How can the DSS and the Police stop a national party like NNPP from holding its legitimate meetings? Where is our right of association and freedom of assembly?
“The duty of the police and the DSS is to provide adequate security for members of our great party before, during, and after its meetings.
“Three different judgments from courts of competent jurisdictions affirmed the legitimacy of New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP) under the national leadership of Alhaji Abba Kawu Ali and Prince Ibrahim Adekunle as Ogun State Chairman. A court order was issued last year stopping the recalcitrant group made up of the expelled NNPP members from parading themselves as members of the party. A high court in Kano state has also issued Form 48 on the same set of individuals whom Governor Dapo Abiodun is using to cause disharmony in Ogun State NNPP.
“All these facts were made available to both the Police and the DSS, but unfortunately, they declined the acknowledgment simply because Dapo Abiodun is involved.
“We are using this medium to reach out to the Nigeria President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to call Governor Dapo Abiodun to order. We in the same manner called on the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of DSS on the need to call both the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command as well as the Director, DSS Ogun State Command to order. Their responsibility is to ensure adequate security for all in Ogun State, and not allow themselves to be manipulated by Governor Dapo Abiodun and his cohorts.
“New Nigeria People’s Party will not give in to any intimidation, oppression or humiliation from Governor Dapo Abiodun who has a lot of urgent duties seeking his attention in the state as Governor.
“South-west NNPP is using this medium to tell Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Commissioner for Justice, Ogun State, to stay away from NNPP affairs completely. The purported interference in the activities of NNPP and the court case against the expelled Individuals from NNPP by Governor Dapo Abiodun and Commissioner for Justice, Ogun State is nothing but a misplaced priority, a ridiculous venture, and a waste of time and hard-earned money of Ogun State.”
