The Ogun State government has accused members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of being responsible for the violent protest in Sagamu on Monday.
The protest over naira scarcity led to an attack on People and the destruction of public infrastructures, including banks.
This is contained in a press statement issued on Monday on behalf of the state government by Kunle Somorin, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
Somorin said the protests, which were purportedly against the “scarcity of naira notes”, witnessed the involvement of known PDP members.
He advised that attacks on innocent people and destroying private and public properties won’t solve the current problem but will instead worsen the situation.
While calling on the members of the public not to allow desperate politicians to mislead them by using them as cannons to vent frustration, Somorin disclosed that the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has been on top of the fallouts of the naira re-design issues.
The statement read:
“Early this morning, a politically motivated violent protest took place in Sagamu, during which innocent people were attacked while banks and public infrastructures were destroyed and razed down by fire.
“We were reliably informed that some disgruntled members of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose members and some of the party’s candidates were seen leading the demonstration.
“While the protests were purportedly against the “scarcity of naira notes”, the real intention of these elements became obvious with the involvement of known PDP members.
“It is on record that the campaign tour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which moved through Simawa to Ogijo and back to Sagamu, where two roads were commissioned yesterday, ended without any hitch.
“The APC rally was attended by tens of thousands of people at different locations, lasting from about 8.00 am. in the morning to 8.00 pm in the evening without any violence, quarrels, or disagreements whatsoever.
We believe strongly that it was the success of the APC rally of yesterday that got the feeble opposition PDP frustrated and therefore made their members embark on the mindless destruction of properties.
“The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has been on top of the fallouts of the naira re-design issues.
“The Governor visited the Central Bank headquarters in Abeokuta and some other commercial banks’ branches, made a state broadcast and empathized with the people with reassurance that efforts are on to ameliorate the negative impacts of the controversial policy on the people. Ogun State is also one of the states that have taken the Federal Government to court on the naira swap policy.
“Attacks on innocent people and the destruction of private and public properties can not solve the current problem but will rather worsen the situation.
“Therefore, we must not allow desperate politicians to mislead members of the public and use them as cannons to vent frustration.
“Rather, our people should exercise patience and be law-abiding while waiting to cast their votes for the party that has stood by the populace even at this critical period.
“Arrests have been made by the police, who immediately swung into an investigation.
“Ogun State has been acknowledged as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, and the government shall not fold its hands and allow the state to be defined by thuggery, violence, and arson.
“The full wrath of the law will be made to bear on the culprits, no matter who their sponsors are.”
