Ismail Omipidan, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Osun Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, criticised Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN for claiming that EndSARS protest-related problems and poor performance were to blame for the outcome of the governorship election in the State on July 16.
Despite the lawyer's right to an opinion, Omipidan said that his submission was inaccurate and deceptive and should not be taken seriously.
He said that any impartial observer or commentator could make a judgement based on the facts and indices if they were to honestly and objectively evaluate Governor Oyetola's performance in office since 2018. He added that this would show that his Principal could not be accused of performing below standard.
“Going by Governor Oyetola’s achievements and impressive scorecard in the last three years plus, it would be grossly unfair and mischievous of anyone to label him a non-performer. The records are there across the sectors. Anyone who holds that Mr Governor performed poorly is only driven by his or her sentiment as against glaring obtainable facts,” Omipidan said.
On the issue of EndSARS, the Governor’s spokesperson reminded Mr. Adegboruwa that Osun was one of the first states to constitute a panel as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to look into cases of assault, illegal arrest, killings, brutality and other forms of rights abuse by the officers and men of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police.
He added that “as a leader committed to justice and the rule of law, Governor Oyetola, in May, 2022 presented cheques of N53,290,000 as compensation to victims of police brutality in the State, as recommended by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry against Police Brutality, Human Rights Violations and Related Extra-Judicial Killings, led by a retired Judge of the High Court, Hon. Justice Akinwale Oladimeji.”