Title: Political Violence: Take Charge, Kwara APC tells Police.

Date: Saturday, 7th of February, 2015.

Protocol

Good day, gentlemen of the press.

As you are aware, ?the 2015 general elections would hold in few days time. Our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), had embarked on state wide campaign across the length and breath of Kwara State in line with the regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, there are genuine concerns and fears about violent-free and peaceful elections in Kwara State. ?These genuine concerns, informed by the perpetual violent activities of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its agents, represent the crux and nitty-gritty of this press conference.

On Wednesday, ?the campaign train and members of our party were ambushed and attacked by PDP thugs loyal to PDP governorship candidate, Senator Simeon Ajibola? in Isapa, Ekiti local government area of Kwara State. Till today, neither the PDP governship candidate nor his party has deemed it necessary to condemn the unprovoked attack on our members. This singular act of irresponsibility displayed by the PDP clearly shows that the PDP does not only sponsor violence but also a proud promoter of violence.

On Thursday, another gang of PDP thugs sponsored by the Kwara South Senatorial Candidate of PDP, Mr Lola Ashiru, attacked APC members in Oyun. Five members of our party were shot while many others sustained severe injuries. We have properly reported this unfortunate incident to security agencies. The attack on Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed's convoy at Kaiama and the attack on APC members in Asa local government area by PDP sponsored thugs are other violent activities the PDP has coordinated in recent times.

As we speak, a gang of thugs led by one Dawuda Ijaomode have either destroyed or defaced APC billboards erected in Adeta area, Garin-Alimi roundabout, Offa garage area and many areas in Ilorin metropolis?.? These agents of destruction, we gathered, are working for Senator Simeon Ajibola, Mr Yinka Aluko and one Sheriff Shagaya.

This is not the first time PDP agents would embark on such journey of destruction as you would recall that I addressed a press conference in August, 2014 on the destruction of our party billboards by PDP thugs in Ilorin metropolis.

From all indications, the PDP is an unrepentant promoter of violence.

The PDP is the same party whose members attacked Channels Television crew on Saturday, 29th of November, 2014. The innocent journalists were beaten heartlessly and their camera damaged beyond repair.

That brutish attack has gone down the memory lane as the worst attack against press freedom since the creation of Kwara State on the 27th of May, 1967.

In the same light, according to revelations by residents of Ilorin, a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has camped suspected hired assassins in different hotels ahead of the forthcoming general elections. We have duly petitioned relevant security agencies on this disturbing revelation.

By now, the people of Kwara State ?are convinced without any iota of doubt that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nothing but violence to offer. Such violent political party has no place in the future of Kwara State. The APC-led government in Kwara State is committed to sustainable peace and development.

We do not believe the police and other security agencies in Kwara State should be urged or begged to do their jobs before they take actions on the unlawful and criminal activities of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State.

Disturbingly, the fact that the Police has handled the violent PDP and its rampaging thugs with kid-gloves signals to, perhaps, a collaboration between the Police and the PDP in Kwara State.

If indeed there is no collaboration between the Police and the PDP, the Police Command should show and assure the people of Kwara State that the Police Command is in charge of the security state of Kwara State.

The Police should call Senator Simeon Ajibola and co to order, in order to stem the tide of political violence in Kwara State. The PDP thugs behind ?the destruction of our billboards and incessant attacks on our party members must be brought to book and made to face justice.

Gentlemen of the press, thanks for listening.