By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the indiscriminate act of brigandage exhibited by political hoodlums allegedly loyal to the sacked state Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the governorship election petition tribunal upturned the victory of Adeleke on Friday.
The APC reminded the PDP and Adeleke that violence cannot restore their mandate in Osun.
Some armed thugs immediately after the delivery of the judgement that did not favour Adeleke went berserk in Osogbo, the Osun state capital on Friday, destroying billboards and posters of the APC senatorial candidate for the Osun Central Senatorial District, Senator Ajibola Bashir.
The thugs who were led by one Alowonle and Ado Igbona, both notorious and known for their viciousness, were spotted going round the state capital, shooting sporadically, alleged to be attacking some members of the APC and their supporters in a manner suggestive of the fact that they were above the law of the land.
It would be recalled that the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sacked Governor Adeleke in favour of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola who declared the authentic winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the state.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued by the acting State Chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in Osogbo on Saturday and made available to newsmen in Osogbo, the attacks of the APC members and destruction of the campaign billboards and posters of the opposition candidates was wicked, primitive and callous.
Lawal stated that it was unfortunate that the embattled and sacked Governor Adeleke could encourage the attacks on the people and their property simply because the tribunal had dispensed justice.
The acting State APC Chairman cautioned Adeleke to call the armed militia of his party and government to order so as to prevent the total breakdown of law and order as the overall effect of the unchecked attacks of the APC members and their campaign apparatuses would not be in the best interest of peaceful atmosphere in the state.
He stated that there could not be any justification for the PDP and Adeleke promoting thuggery with a view to unleashing avoidable violence on the members of the opposition and their property.
Lawal tasked the leadership of the state police command and other statutory security agencies in the state not to look away while the political hoodlums terrorise the innocent people of the state.
In his words: “The sacked Governor Adeleke has an option to appeal the tribunal judgement instead of resorting to self-help from the hoodlums who lack the capacity to influence the tribunal judgment that has been delivered in favour of our candidate, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
“If the sacked Governor Adeleke truly has genuine interest in allowing peace to reign in Osun State, he should put on his thinking cap and beat a retreat from his love for violence as such could only lead to an irredeemable perdition”, the acting State APC Chairman cautioned.
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