The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Kwara State, Dr. Mike Omotosho, yesterday accused the state government of blocking its programmes designed to empower people of the state.

The campaign organisation of the candidate, in a statement accused the government of frustrating its agricultural programme aimed at training 200 women in the state. He said the programme was part of activities to mark the International Women's Day.

A statement by Director-General of the campaign organisation, Barrister Funsho Saad, said: "On Thursday, March 5, 2015, The Mike Omotosho Foundation commenced an agricultural programme in commemoration of the International Women's Day, to train and empower 200 women in irrigation farming. The final event was to hold on Saturday, when the women will be given already prepared farmlands in a community with seedlings to plant, but we received a call from the community heads asking us to call off the programme, because of threats from the state government".

Though, the statement did not mention the community where the threat was reportedly received, Daily Trust gathered that the project was planned for Amoyo community, a suburb of Ilorin in Ifelodun Local Government Area.

The LP candidate described the development as "unfortunate and disheartening", adding, "It shows unhealthy politics and desperation on the part of the state government. We also gathered that similar warnings were issued to one of the state agencies collaborating with the Foundation on the programme".

But the state government said there was no truth in the allegation by the LP candidate. A statement by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muideen Akorede, said nobody prevented Omotosho or any other candidate from carrying out their campaign activities.

He said: "There is no truth to the allegation that the state government prevented the Mike Omotosho Campaign Organisation or any other candidate in the forthcoming election from carrying out their campaign activities. The Ahmed administration is an ardent believer in the rule of law and will therefore not abridge any political party or candidate's right to canvas for votes. We are just hearing about the Mike Omotosho Foundation's programme".