The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has denied the allegation that he was behind the attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari and other chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abeokuta Ogun State during the presidential rally.
Rather, he said, the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole and former Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, should be held responsible for the attacks.
The rally which was held on Monday at the M.K.O. International Stadium witnessed violence with some Allied People’s Movement, APC, placard carrying hoodlums hauling sachet water, sticks and other things at the APC chieftains on the podium.
Reacting over the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, the APC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, described it as regrettable.
It declared that the party would not condone such indiscipline and would bring whoever was behind the attacks to book, no matter how highly placed.
But in its reaction to the threat by the party, the governor in a statement by his Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, Rotimi Durojaiye, said it was ridiculous that he was accused of sponsoring thugs to disrupt the rally which he hosted.
Durojaiye said: “The position of the governor is that rather than dissipate their energy on those they will deal with after election, Comrade Oshiomole and his co-travellers should be remorseful that their anti-democratic conduct has denied the APC scores of legislative seats and a number of executive positions across the country even before the elections. They do not need to wait until after the election, they should throw-in the towel now for undermining the chances of the party they have cornered for their selfish ends”.
The governor’s Special Adviser noted that “it is clearly ridiculous that someone will author the statement purportedly signed by Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu. As the governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun was not only the host at the rally, he organised the grand reception for Mr President.
“The relationship between President Buhari and Governor Amosun is well known. It is therefore unthinkable that someone will allege that Governor Amosun will organise thugs against the president.
“The statement by Mr Onilu is another confirmation of the personification of the APC by Comrade Oshimhole who is using the party to ventilate his personal grouse against Governor Amosun. It is however becoming clear to every discerning mind that the injustice meted out to the overwhelming majority of members of the APC in Ogun State by Comrade Oshiomhole and his cohorts cannot stand.”
He explained further: “Mr President was given an unprecedented rousing welcome into the Moshood Abiola Stadium on arrival and the atmosphere at the rally remained peaceful and carnival-like until former Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola and Comrade Oshiomhole incensed the crowd with their unguarded speeches.
“It is important to note that contrary to the erroneous impression being created that President Buhari campaign tour ended abruptly, President Buhari attended all campaign activities as scheduled after the rally at the stadium.
“He met the Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers at the June 12 Cultural Centre where he addressed 1012 traditional rulers and chiefs comprising Paramount rulers, High Chiefs, Baales and Olorituns from across the state and thereafter had a private lunch at the Presidential Lodge before departing Ogun State as scheduled.”
