The Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Osun State praised Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke for taking a strong stance against violence in the run-up to the general election, saying that the governor's prompt action had spared the state and its citizens from the evil scheme of their former Governor Mr. Gboyega Oyetola and his APC (APC).
The PDP chapter yesterday dismissed the APC's futile attempt to link it to the upsurge in violence in the state, stating that the people of the state are well aware of Oyetola and his party's propensity for violence, in a statement by its acting chairman, Dr. Akindele Adekunle.
Adekunle claimed that Osun State had been peaceful up until lately, when the return of Oyetola precipitated acts of violence, in keeping with the APC's purported scheme to topple Governor Ademola Adeleke's administration.
He alleged: “Under Oyetola, violence was the order of the day as violent actors like Asiri Eniba and Rashidi Oko Ilu under the direct command of the former governor and his party unleashed terror on the people of Osun State. In a viral video that could still be obtained on the internet, Rashidi Oko Ilu boasted of killing people without consequence because Oyetola has his back.
“That should tell you how bad things were under Oyetola in term of violence. Upon his exit from office following the rejection by the people, the state returned to the path of peace, but that is now being threatened with Oyetola’s return to the state, which we have come to find out was deliberate.”
The PDP, however, warned that the people of Osun State would not tolerate Oyetola’s desperation to throw the state into chaos.
He said: “Let Oyetola and his gang know that Osun people spoke loudly on July 16, 2022, by overwhelmingly electing Senator Ademola Adeleke as their governor.
“We are well aware that the reckless comment by Oyetola and certain leaders in his party, especially in speculating about the petition before the judiciary, was part of a calculated attempt to spur our people to respond and create a crisis in the state.
“Notwithstanding our call of restraint to the people over the provocative utterances of Oyetola and his sponsors, we will want to stress for their understanding that any plot to steal the mandate of the people freely given to Governor Ademola Adeleke is a declaration of war on Osun people and no political party or power has ever waged a war against the people and won. This won’t be an exception.”
The Osun PDP called on the people to heed the call of Governor Adeleke and stay away from violence, vowing to stand with the governor in resisting every attempt by Oyetola and his party to disrupt the peace and stability of the state.