The audio where Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was allegedly caught in an audio recording where he threatened to destroy Ikale land in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state and declared their votes unnecessary ahead of his re-election in 2020 gubernatorial election in the state has gone viral on social media.
Reliable multiple sources confirmed to Starnews the governor allegedly made the threat at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba George Faduyile, the ABODI of Ikale where Akeredolu tongue-lashed the monarch over the communal clash at Ago-Alaye between the Ikales and the people of Araromi-Obu in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The audio recording which has gone viral and obtained by Starnews correspondent, the governor allegedly said the following: “what happened in Ago-Alaye must not repeat itself and it will not. And if anybody tries it, I’m saying it now, I will level that place, nothing will happen.
“How? people live with themselves for years and some people will just start burning down houses. How can we live like this?
“Kabiyesi, the Deputy Governor has called you for a meeting twice and you refused to show up. I’ve deployed security personnel to Ago-Alaye and nobody will be allowed to move until you (Abodi) curb those perpetrating the atrocities. And if care is not taken, it will be forever. We’ll do it and nothing will happen. This is government.
“How? People will just wake up, destroy people’s property and maim them, how? How do we do this?
“Even if the whole of Ondo State belongs to you (Abodi) we’ll chase ourselves over what?
“Kabiyesi, I just felt with all reluctance to come here. Even when I called you on phone, you said the line was bad. I got information that meetings were called and you did not come, the Deputy Governor said it and others came. You claimed to be observing a traditional festival that forbids you from coming out. If that is true or not, I don’t want to know about it, because I don’t know about any festival that will not allow one to come out.
“With all respect sir, with due respect” that is why I had to call your son, Dayo who is close to me to call you to order.
“Today we’re here, the government must be there to protect the lives and properties of the citizens, no matter where they are.
“We (government) are not scared. We have said what we wanted to say. On the day of election, if you (Ikales) wish, don’t give us your votes, no problem about that. And if we lose the election, we will go back to where we came from. We are not scared. What are we scared about? Nothing.
“We’re here to serve you people and when we’re done, we’ll go our own way. It is not a must you like us. We have nothing to lose. We are not scared of anyone. We say things the way it is.
“Warn your people. Any repeat of it will get devastating.”
Recall that Starnews had reported on August 1, 2019 how Retired General Oluyemi Bajowa, slammed governor Akeredolu’s alleged public outburst, display of power, at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba Faduyile Abodi, which he said lacks decency and protocol, and unbecoming of the highly exalted office of a state governor.
General Bajowa (rtd.) spoke on behalf of Ikale Communities during a press conference in Akure, Ondo State capital.
He also said the governor threw caution to the wind when he boasted that he doesn’t need Ikale votes for his re-election in 2020.
Starnews reported on June 28, 2019, that Ikale community won an age-long land dispute case with her neighboring community of Araromi Obu in Odigbo local government area of Ondo sate.
The case, which was resolved in an Akure High Court, lasted for 15 years with repeated adjournment and trials in a suit number HOR/2/2004.
The people of Araromi-Obu had approached the court, saying the Ikale community were laying claim to their land as well as harassing their kinsmen over the ownership of the disputed land, but Justice O.O Akeredolu, the Chief Judge of Ondo state, ruled in favour of the Ikales. The Judge said that the traditional history of the land revealed that the disputed lands belong to the Ikale speaking community of Ondo State.
This however resulted to a communal clash between the two communities with the people of Ikale alleging Araromi-Obu’s indigenes of preventing them from working on their farmland ever since the court judgment was given in their favour.
It culminated to the declaration of 24hours curfew in the areas by the governor but the people of Ikale said the imposition of curfew by the state government was one sided.
While giving the account of what happened and how it happened, they also accused governor Akeredolu of double standard in the matter.
Reacting to the development, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information Donald Ojogo stated that, “It is an unfair statement if anyone says the Governor is biased in his handling of the crisis.
“Recall that he visited both areas and appealed for calm even as he deployed armed security to the affected conflict zone. That singular act of swift response by the governor stemmed the crisis, especially as it avoided reprisal attacks from either community.”
For the past three weeks, Ago-Alaye has been the focal point of clashes between the people of Araromi-Obu in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state and their Ikale neighbour in Okitipupa Local Government over the ownership of land after an Ondo State High Court ruled in favour of the Ikales as the real owners of the disputed land.
The unrest subsequently led to a 24-hour curfew placed on the community by Governor Akeredolu on July 17 in order to prevent the continued breakdown of law and order.
A panel of enquiry has also been set up by the governor to look into the July 16 crisis between the Ikales and the people of Araromi-Obu.
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