Ondo 2020: Deputy Gov to launch campaign at Free Venue amidst cash strapped reports

…Akeredolu is intolerant, denied us venue – Ajayi

…it’s blackmail, count us out of your ordeal- Ondo Govt

Strong indications have emerged that the financial crisis in the Zenith Labour Party is far from over with its governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi opting for a free venue to launch his campaign.

It was gathered that the event, earlier scheduled for Thursday, September 17 at the Democracy Park, will now hold on Saturday, 19 at Ore, headquarters of Odigbo local Government area of the state.

A member of the deputy Governor’s campaign team confided in our correspondent that the shift in both date and venue was due to the high was due to the inability of the party to raise money to hire the venue.

“We have to shift the date and change venue to a free place because as at this morning, the managers of the facility had agreed to collect the sum of five million Naira but from all indications, it became difficult to raise the sum hence the movement to Ore which is free”, he said.

But the embattled deputy Governor, Ajayi, in a statement issued by his media adviser, Allen Sowore, blamed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of frustrating the ZLP in its plan to use the venue.

“Let be it known that the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) applied for the usage of the M K O Abiola Democracy Park, Akure to flag off its campaign rally. After the successful completion of all due process, the agency responsible, acting on the instruction of Ondo State governor deliberately hiked the price from the original five million naira, which the venue was given out to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for its own rally on Saturday, 12th September,2020.

“Even at that, the Zenith Labour Party ( ZLP) was ready to pay the N11 million charged but the official in charge disappeared. It then became clear that Governor Akeredolu was ready to frustrate the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). This is a condemnable act !

“It is disheartening that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria can preside over a government that would deny the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) the use of any public facility especially the Democracy Park built under the visionary leadership of Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who is the national leader of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)”, the statement said.

Nonetheles, the Ondo State commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo has absorbed the State Government and Governor Akeredolu.

“The futile attempt to drag the Ondo State Government into arena of frustrations suffered by the ZLP is most unacceptable. It must be noted that the venue is question is not under the control of the State Government. It has long been firmed out to a consultant who manages the facility.

“The recourse to blackmail is a deliberate blackmail venture aimed diverting the attention of the people from proper public scrutiny of those who have chosen to throw their hats in the ring.

“The most illogical stunt is when the ZLP candidate alluded to a puerile allegation that an officer ran away even when the sum of N11 m was to be paid. Perhaps, that was very ridiculous because it means that official must have deliberately allowed such huge sum to elude him “, Ojogo said.

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