The governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo state, Kunle Ajayi, has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of mobilising thugs to stop the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest in the state.

In a statement on Monday, Mr Ajayi alleged that the thugs, which had the support of security agencies, were threatening and intimidating protestors to shun the protest against the hardship in the country.

“Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is busy mobilising thugs all over the state to stop and intimidate protesters. Horribly, these known thugs were followed by a combined team of Amotekun, police, and NDLEA all through the weekend,” said Mr Ajayi.

The governorship candidate claimed he had engaged the security agents to ascertain why they allowed thugs to threaten residents.

“For the sake of history, the thugs at Ore were led by Deji Rainwater and Abayomi Ojonakoku. They promised to attack anyone that protests, and it’s so gory that government officials were the guides of the horrible team.

“As the African Action Congress (AAC) gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming November 16 elections and a foremost activist, I want to notify Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his thugs that I will be at the barricades myself and the whole of the Take It Back movement in Ondo state,” Mr Ajayi said in the copy of the statement obtained by Peoples Gazette on Monday.

The accusation is coming barely a day after the state police command ordered the protestors in the state to submit details of their protests by indicating the venue of convergence to avoid being hijacked by armed thugs.

Vowing that no amount of threats would stop the nationwide protest, the AAC governorship candidate said the people must be allowed to exercise their civic rights without molestation and harassment.

He further noted that the state’s people would be encouraged to troupe out en mass by resisting thugs allegedly sponsored by Mr Aiyedatiwa.

“I call on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to stop spending hard-earned government money on mobilising thugs. Nothing harmful must disrupt or attack the peaceful protesters! Go and demobilise those you are paying to attack protesters and the barricades. A word is enough for the wise,” he added.

The Gazette could not immediately reach Kayode Fasua, the spokesman to Mr Aiyedatiwa’s campaign organisation, for comments on the allegation.

However, one of the aides to the governor, who spoke anonymously, denied the allegation of sponsoring thugs for the protest.

“Since the issue is now being politicised, I might not be able to talk much about it because I’m not the spokesperson for the campaign organisation, but I can tell you for free that the governor has no time for the baseless allegations.

“Aiyedatiwa is a peace-loving person and would always want people to exercise their rights. So, why would he stop people from exercising their rights? I am sure the governor would be interested in a peaceful demonstration and not one that could lead to violence or mayhem,” he said.