Attack on TOP: Don’t rope me in, Akerele denies involvement

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo

A youth leader, in Isokan South Local Council Development Area of Osun State, Mr Tesleem Raji popularly known as Akerele has denied alleged involvement in the attack on the members of The Osun Progressives (TOP) during their weekly meeting at Oranmiyan House in Osogbo, on Thursday.

Akerele, who said he was out of the state when the incident happened, wondered how a person who was not in the state would still be accused of leading thugs to unleash terror on people.

Recall some armed political hoodlums had around 2:10pm attacked members of the APC during the weekly meeting of TOP.

Advertisement

The incident occurred at the popular Oranmiyan House, located along Gbongan/Ibadan, Osogbo during their weekly meeting.

Addressing journalists shortly after the incident, The Osun Progressives (TOP) Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, accused Governor Adegboyega Oyetola led-IleriOluwa group of masterminding the attack.

Adebiyi alleged that the IleriOluwa group sent thugs to attack them, accusing Akerele to have led the attack on their members. He added that it was the same Akerele who led the attack on them during their state congress.

But, in a swift reaction, Akerele in a telephone interview with The Conclave described the allegations as unfounded, baseless and an attempt to tarnish his image.

He said: “I laughed when I read through the news especially when I saw my name being mentioned as the ringleader of the suspected attackers .

“As a matter of fact, I am away from Osogbo. As I’m speaking with you, I am in Abuja for a programme. So I wonder why my name is being mentioned. I’m not a ghost who can be in Abuja and still be operating in Osogbo.

“I am an easy going, peace lover and law abiding citizen of Osun State.

“I want the security agencies to fish out those people who perpetrated the attack. And Elder Adebiyi Adelowo should also be made to prove himself over the allegations” Akerele concluded.