Ondo ACN faults Akoko monarch’s solidarity visit

The Ondo State chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday condemned the last Monday solidarity visit of some traditional rulers from Akoko North East Local government area of the state to Govenror Olusegun Mimiko over the resignation of former Labour Party (LP) Chairman, Olaiya Oni.

Besides, an ACN Chieftain, Dr. Tunji Abayomi who also criticised the monarchs’ visit, described them as political agents.

In a statement signed by the Publicity Director of ACN, Mr Gbenga Akinmoyo, the party said rather than the traditional rulers coming to rubbish the integrity of Oni, they should have concentrated on things that would edify their communities.

Akinmoyo said,” It is high time traditional rulers stopped being slaved to the government of the day and give appropriate dignity to their stool because their roles should be neutral in the society.

He said “In similar vein, we are amazed at the hullabaloo that the governor has generated through his support mechanism from Akokoland. They claim that Olaiya Oni is an insignificant departure from the Labour Party and yet his exit from the party has necessitated a frantic mobilisation of sycophants who were stage-managed into orchestrated swan songs supporting the Mimiko administration”.

However, Dr. Tunji Abayomi noted that things have really gone very bad in the State when traditional rulers carry placards and seek the crown of disorder in their effort to lift up a Governor.

According to him, “Traditional rulers are not politicians; they are expected to act from reflection. They are expected to conform their acts with the character of their dominion. They are not expected to support or impress a Governor that pretends to govern when in reality he misgoverns and abuses his Commission.

“It appears all our expectation have now finally been blighted and our faith shattered by the unsound ignorance demonstrated by the Mimiko government supported solidarity visit of August 15, 2011.

Meanwhile, the state LP reiterated that the resignation of the state party chairman has nothing to do with corporate existence of the party in any part of the state as the party boasted that it would continued to wax stronger

The party also said that it had perfected necessary arrangements to fill the vacuum caused by the exit of the former chairman in the interest of development of the party.

The state organising secretary of the party, Comrade Rotimi Benjamin told reporters in Akure, the state capital, that the resignation of the former chairman was uncalled for as reasons given by him were of personal interest.

He said the state executive members of the party were holding talks on how to address all issues at hand and to also ensure that opposition parties in the state do not take advantage of the development

Benjamin said Olaiya Oni as an experienced and respected politician that contributed immensely to the growth of the party in the state, should have handled the situation with maturity rather than take such step.