Federal Capital Territory Minister of State, Olajumoke Akinjide, said soldiers were deployed to monitor last Saturday’s rerun election in the Irepo-Orelope-Olorunsogo Federal Constituency to allegedly prevent the Action Congress of Nigeria from going ahead with its planned rigging manual through the use of paid thugs.
Oyo State chapter of the ACN accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of using federal might to intimidate voters during the rerun election in the Constituency through mass deployment of military personnel.
But while commending the joint security team of policemen and soldiers for foiling the attempted rigging and arresting over 100 of the miscreants Akinjide, who spoke through his media aide, Kehinde Isiaka, called on the security operatives not to stop at the arrest of those she called “ACN criminals” but also get them prosecuted to deter others who might be similarly inclined.
According to her, it is regrettable that the ACN administration in the state could unleash undesirable elements and hoodlums on its own people because of desperation for power against the popular wish of the electorate in the state, the fears of the electorate in the area became palpably heightened when the ACN thugs who ostensibly followed Governor Abiola Ajimobi to the area for campaign stayed put and fomented trouble, leading to the arrest of over 100 of the thugs.
“It is hypocritical for the ACN which praised the military to the high heavens during the 2011 general election for maintaining order to now turn back and malign the security operatives and accuse them of intimidating voters. The blurred memories of those in the ACN should be refreshed and their attention pointed to the fact that the same no-nonsense Federal Government under the able leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP deployed soldiers for the last year’s election.
“So, why are they now crying wolf where there is actually none? This is nothing but a case of sheer hypocrisy. If the ACN-led government in Oyo State could be so cruel and wicked in mobilising thugs and criminals to swoop on its people because of election, then it behooves the Federal Government to come to the aid of the people and safeguard their lives. After all, security of life and property is a fundamental responsibility of those in government,
“A few days before the election, hired ACN thugs had pounced on a peaceful assembly of PDP faithful and maimed some of them. The unfortunate incident of threat to communal peace and tranquility was duly reported to the appropriate authority,”Akinjide said.
