Group accuses Ogun govt. of pulling down PDP billboards

premiumtimesng.com

An Ogun State youth movement sympathetic to the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the Ogun State government of deliberately pulling down PDP billboards around the state.

However, in a swift reaction, the government, through its Signage and Advertisement Agency, denied the allegation, saying the party was playing politics with the matter.

The group, in a statement by its coordinator, Fatai Adesegun, made available on Wednesday in Abeokuta insisted on its allegation against the government,  describing the pulling down the billboards and posters as “too childish and unbecoming of an incumbent”.

The group, known as  G & G Youth Movement, however cautioned the state Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, and his party, the All Progressives Congress to desist from destroying PDP posters and banners across the state.

 “It is childish if we can’t tolerate ourselves in politicking and very unbecoming of an incumbent descending this low to fight the opposition via defaming posters, pulling down banners and creating violence,” it said. “As a law abiding group whose vision is to promote transformation and deliver abundance of life to the people of Ogun state come May 29 when
our presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan gets sworn in for a 2nd term and our governorship candidate, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka commences full-fledged human-faced government to make life more abundant, we love to implore the state government and the APC in Ogun state to please stop destroying PDP campaign materials as acts like that is capable of brewing violence in the state. Amosun and his cohorts have seen clearly that the March 28 and April 11 elections can never go their way so they are doing everything possible to cause havoc in state.”

The group further implored the supporters of PDP to avoid reprisal and continue their issue-based campaign

However, the General Manager of the Ogun State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Akinlabi Bandele, said many of the billboards and posters did not get approved and called on politicians to desist from erecting billboards across the state without getting approval before doing so.

“(PDP) wants to play politics with everything,” Mr. Bandele said. “If you want to do something big like this, you come for approval and not that you just erect anything anyhow. It is a threat to passers-by, and we cannot fold our arms until it causes disaster before we comment. 

“On the board they alleged that was removed last week, I want to state categorically that we know nothing about it. Yesterday,we saw that another one has been placed there with one APC board, we pasted removal notice on them.

“By this morning when our men got there, the APC’s own had been removed and that of PDP was still there and they have removed the notice placed on it. Some miscreants were seen all around trying to cause trouble with our people but they have to returned to the office.

“The structure cannot stand there and this is not about politics but according to our regulation and law. One, they got no approval. The area was allocated to someone before, if you get there, you will see the base erected by the person, only that they have not done on it and lastly, it is too close to the main road.

 “If what I have said was not correct, they can come out and debunk it. As that thing is over there, if there is heavy rainfall or storm, it can cause disaster to passers-by and motorists. The structure has no integrity and it contravenes all provisions for the approval of a free standing sign like the one erected by the PDP at the OPIC roundabout.

“We have sent a letter to their office just now and we shall be glad if they adhere to the directive and leave politics aside. You need to see the base, they put stone to hold it. it is very dangerous and it is a contravention. We cannot guarantee the integrity of the structure.”