The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has described the allegation made by the camp of Governor Seyi Makinde that it (APC) was planning to burn down the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as deliberate falsehood, wicked propaganda and a shameful attempt to mislead the public.
The Reelection Campaign Organisation of Gov. Makinde said, in a statement issued at the weekend, that it had uncovered a plan by the major opposition party in the state to carry out coordinated attacks on the INEC’s state headquarters located very close to the Governors Office in Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.
But in a swift reaction contained in a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC expressed concerns and disappointment over what it described as “an impending doom for democracy in the state which deserves proactive measures from all the relevant stakeholders and patriots.
“Providence has just done the desirable thing for the good people of Oyo state as it caused the PDP elements to reveal that the leopard in them would never change its spots. The whole world has again been made to realize that the umbrella party which parades an unassailable record of political violence, brigandage and domestic terrorism in Oyo state was not prepared to turn a new leaf and key into the campaign for sustainable peace and decent practices in our democratic practices.
“We could have ignored the merchant of blackmail on their puerile claim of arson plan but we felt a need to put it on record that APC does not have any reason whatsoever to sponsor attacks against individuals and public facilities (including INEC offices) as it is not in our character or idiosyncrasy to destroy or sabotage. The only change which has come into the way we do things is that we shall not continue to watch helplessly while some violent characters hound and victimise our members and property as electioneering get underway.
“It is even laughable that the alert came from an unscrupulous character who recently publicised the reactivation of his lie mill with the fake announcement of some popular media practitioners as members of an ill-fated GSM Reelection Media Team but the concerned people did not waste any time to dissociate themselves from the claim. Sad enough, the same Dotun Oyelade who raised a false alarm of arson plan has held the state owned broadcast organisation by its jugular for years without any record of achievements.
“The whole world knows under whose supervision Ile-Akede was invaded and destroyed in 2010. The whole world knows those who coordinate the violent activities of Mukaila Auxiliary-led PMS agents who inflict pains on the people of the state on daily basis. The residents of the state also know those who run a criminal gang of billboard vandals and opposition member witch-hunters. Only yesterday, PDP sent its ‘official terrorists’ to Ibarapaland and the quantum of destruction and pains which they left behind, after hours of operation, is devastating.
“As a matter of fact, the divinely-induced revelation coming from the camp of Oyo PDP should not be taken with a pinch of salt as parties and candidates prosecute their electioneering ahead of the 2023 election. It is highly imperative for security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders as well as patriots and friends of Nigeria to collaborate and ensure that no individual or group of individuals is allowed to truncate the electoral process for selfish gains. The people of Oyo state deserve their peace and all agents of violence must be put to check or caused to be demobilised by their sponsors.” Sadare stated.
