By   Dayo Johnson
OPPOSITION political parties in Ondo State, weekend, called for calm and caution over the protests that rocked the state as a result of the substitution of the governorship candidate of the PDP, Mr Eyitayo Jegede.

Reacting to the protest, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, called on security agents in the state to be more pro-active in combating criminal activities as the governorship election draws near.

In a statement by the state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Remi Olayiwola, the party said that the protest that trailed the removal of Jegede’s name and its replacement with Jimoh Ibrahim had to do with the flag bearer of only one out of the 28 participating political parties in the election.

The SDP said: “The other day, it was the APC disturbing the people of the state, today, it is the PDP. These are political parties in government at various levels in the country. So, if there’s any violence during the forth coming governorship election, the two parties must be held responsible.”

Also, the Alliance for Democracy, AD, condemned the acts of brigandage and blocking of roads by protesters were  organized by government.

State Secretary of the party, Sola Agboola called “on the law enforcement agencies to call Governor Mimiko and his protégé, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to order and hold them responsible for any infraction and breakdown of law and order.

“The AD, as a peaceful party, abhors violence and destruction of public properties and we view with seriousness this shameful act of brigandage to force the hands of the law to do your wish by fire by force as Mr Mimiko is doing.

“The present mayhem is an organised one  being perpetrated by the Ondo State Government and not that of the reaction of the people.”