The city of Osogbo, Osun State capital was on Monday, April 1, enveloped by a palpable tension when a contingent of anti-riot policemen stormed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s state secretariat, located around Biket area of the town.
Nigerian Tribune reports that though the policemen did not enter the premises of the 3-storey building, their stationing around the building caused apprehension among members of the opposition party and the people in the neighbourhood.
It was gathered that the stern looking policemen who were seen in the patrol van, arrived the Secretariat around 8.15am and were there till about 12.00pm.
In his reaction, the state PDP chairman, Hon Soji Adagunodo, who confirmed the heavy presence of police operatives, said the party did not invite them for any purpose, saying they were surprised to see them.
He said: “We saw grand mobilisation of police to our secretariat this morning. Whatever way the whole scenario turned out to be, we are not disturbed, we are not afraid. Their presence does not affect us as a political party.
“Whatever we are doing as a political party, we are a peace-loving party and we have been like that from inception. I received a call from the deputy commissioner of police that we want to demonstrate.”
Adagunodo further stated: “Then, I told him ‘protest for what?’ What are we protesting for or against? We are not protesting, we are jubilating and our jubilation started from March 22 and it will continue until the reins of power is handed over to Senator Ademola Adeleke. At that time, we would do a grand jubilation.
“I know by the virtue of rule of law, they have appealed and by the time the Appeal Court is going to give its judgment, we are going to see another jubilation in Osun for the PDP and Senator Ademola Adeleke and the grand jubilation would be when the Supreme Court gives its final judgment in favour of Senator Ademola Adeleke.
“So, I told deputy commissioner of police that we are not protesting, we are only jubilating. Whenever we want to do anything, we have been writing the Police. We have the records even when we want to do meeting we write them.
“The APC is jittery after they organised a protest and they thought we were going to organise a counter-protest but we said no, we allowed people to react and thank God that they were condemned entirety on the social media for their protest.”
The state police public relations officers, Folasade Odoro, said that the police were deployed to the place for preventive measure.
She contended that there was intelligence reports that some suspected thugs were planning an attack on the place, hence the need for the command to deploy the police so as to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
