By Abimbola Joseph, LAGOS
Members of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have staged a protest against what they described as alleged intimidations by some traditional leaders in Imota area of Ikorodu, Lagos.
The protest took place on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
Citizens Compass reports that the protesters armed with placards and different inscriptions like “Election is not war”, Stop cursing residents voting for other parties”.
“PDP call for caution and peace from leaders and elders in the community”, “Imota PDP has brought development to Imota community”, “Why will Oloro traditional curse PDP members” and many others.
The protesters who gathered in their numbers moved around the community displaying their placards also visited the palace of the monarch to express their grievances.
Earlier, Mr Adewale Oyebo, PDP candidate for Lagos State House of Assembly,(LAHA), Ikorodu Constituency 2, appealed to the community leaders to allow residents to vote for candidates of their choice in the forthcoming Governorship and Assembly elections.
Oyebo assured the residents of his support and appealed to electorates to go out enmass and exercise their franchise as directed by the constitution of Nigeria.
“The protest is good and very successful in this our community in Imota.
“We have some other communities that made up Ikorodu constituency 2 such as Ijede, Ibeshe, Igbogbo/Baiyeku and others with monarchs ruling them.
“Monarchs are not supposed to be political but this area of Imota, the monarch is intimidating voters with charms.
“Cursing those who will want to vote for another party apart from All Progressive Congress(APC) during next elections,” he said.
He assured members of victory and urged residents to come out enmass to vote for PDP for new wave and more dividends of democracy to the community if voted in as their candidates representing the constituency at LAHA.
He promised to organise sports activities and empowerment programmes for the youths, provision of affordable shops for market men and women, provision of clean water, sponsor bills on health and education.
Also, he promised to provide scholarship to students of higher institution among others.
“It is high time people allow another government to take over and solve the current hardship residents are passing through.
“I have different programmes ranging from free education, women empowerment and so on if voted for,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Adedolapo Arowolo, Chairman, Ward B1, Imota appealed to party supporters and electorates to disregard the intimidation and concentrate on canvassing people for vote to avoid voters apartheid.
“This is the usual attitude of our traditional leader in this area, especially during election periods, eventually it will cause voter apathy because they have instilled fear into the electorates,” he said.
Responding, the, Monarch, Oba Ajibade Agoro, Ranodu of Imota said that he directed traditional leaders to perform rituals to the gods to ensure peace and avert any form of violence that may occur during the elections in the community.
“It is indeed true that we offered sacrifices in Imota, but it is for the benefit and peace of our community however no name or party was mentioned.
“When I saw them, I taught they are doing political campaign or rally not knowing it was a protest because I was in the palace.
“We only offered sacrifices’ for the community to be peaceful during elections considering what we have gone through in the past on violence during elections.
“There are about 26 political parties why is it that only PDP are the ones complaining, i don’t want anybody to over hit the polity, ” he said.
