By Evelyn Omotoye
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Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi has refuted the allegations leveled against him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on his alleged plans to engage ex-millitants to rig the forthcoming elections in the riverine areas of the state.

According to a press statement issued by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Leke Akeredolu, he said the allegation is baseless and holds no water.

The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a press conference held by the PDP in Ondo State alleging that the Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Agboola Ajayi is plotting to use Ex-militants to rig elections in the Niger-Delta areas of the state.

“This allegation is both distasteful and regretful. It is also a shame that a national party like the PDP would throw caution to the wind and deliberately embark on peddling complete falsehood in a desperate attempt  to discredit an election that is yet to hold.

“This action of the PDP in Ondo State is symptomatic of a political party that is being stared in the face by sure defeat at the polls.”

Agboola said it is no longer news that the PDP and all its candidates have been rejected by the people after a 16-year period that was characterised with looting and destruction of the unity of the country.

The statement added that “we will, however, like to make it clear to the whole world that the Deputy Governor, who is the Chairman of the Amnesty Programme in the state met leaders of the ex-militants on Monday to resolve a misconception over their incorporation into the federal government Amnesty programme.

“Ajayi only appealed to these ex-militants, who had been threatening to disrupt the elections in the riverine areas of the state to sheathe their swords and be patient with the federal government.

The Deputy Governor was quoted to have also told the aggrieved ex-militants that the federal government would soon begin training for them at the newly commissioned Oil and Gas Vocational Training Centre in Agadagba-Obon in Ese-Odo area of Ondo State.

“Kindly note that Ajayi has been playing intermediary roles between the federal government and the ex-militants . He also palyed a very important role in the discussions that led to the laying down of weapons by the ex-militants”.

He said Monday’s meeting was not different from the previous meetings that government representatives  have had with leaders of the ex-militants and the discussion centered basically on their inclusion into the amnesty programme not elections matter.