The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of stockpiling weapons ahead of Saturday’s House of Assembly election.
The PDP, in a statement signed by its Caretaker Chairman, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, to deploy resources immediately to remove dangerous weapons in the possession of thugs working for the state’s main opposition party.
Adekunle noted that the APC has become increasingly desperate in the aftermath of its dismal performance in the presidential and national assembly elections on February 25.
He warned of grave dangers to the state and its people if the Police Chief did not act quickly.
Dr. Akindele said the terrible experience of the people of Iree in Boripe local government, where a former APC Commissioner and his thugs have been shooting sporadically into the air for the past three days, was a warning sign of the impending danger.
He alleged that the scenario is the same in Ayedade local government where the APC Assembly candidate led thugs to kill several Fulani cows in the despicable act of intimidating people.
“As at the time of filling this report, APC thugs are parading the streets of Ife East and Central with guns and other dangerous weapons. There is credible reports that the arms build-up also affected the entire Ijeshaland and others.
“Since the outcome of Saturday’s election was made known, people of Iree town in Boripe local government have been leaving in palpable fear as the sound of gunshots forced many of the residents indoors. To our dismay, there was no military operation in that axis to have warranted such level of gunshots, rather, it was a former Commissioner in Gboyega Oyetola government and his thugs acting with reckless impunity,” Adekunle alleged.
“We understand that he was livid at the poor performance of the APC in the election and angry at the people for making their democratic choice. So, he wants to scare them and make sure they don’t come out on March 11 to exercise their franchise as enshrined in the Constitution.
“Similar despicable act was experienced in Ayedade local government, and just recently, the APC candidate led thugs to kill several Fulani cows. This is an overreach and we strongly call on the IGP to swift into action before APC throws Osun on fire out of its desperation.”
The PDP also alleged it suffered at the hands of the APC and its thugs in the build-up to the February 25 election, asking the IGP to prevent any repeat.
“Before the February 25 election, the APC went on a violent spree and the PDP suffered hugely. In Ikire, Irewole local government. Two PDP members were gunned down by the APC in their houses in the dead of the night, and in Ilesa, three PDP members were crudely murdered in broad daylight by the APC.
“PDP members in Osogbo, Ife, Boripe, and other parts of the state were casualties of the APC rascality and unreasonable campaign of violence. In spite of all these losses, the PDP did not retaliate and instead, trusted the law that justice will take its course.
“Governor Adeleke has consistently warned against violence, which the PDP strictly adhered to. This is more reason why we are calling on the IGP to come to the rescue of the Osun people and save it from the impending bloodletting that the APC is planning to execute.
“It is no longer secret that the APC is no longer acceptable to Osun people, hence, its resort to violence as captured in a leaked conversation on its plan for the March 11 election.
“The IGP has a duty to protect the Osun people, and we implore him to do so without tarry,” he stressed.
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