The opposition All Progressives Congress and the ruling People’s Democratic Party in Osun State are currently trading words over proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition in the State.
The APC in a statement by its Acting Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal said it’s worried by the alarming rate at which political thugs loyal to the PDP and Governor Ademola Adeleke are brandishing guns and other dangerous weapons, calling on the National Security Adviser and the Inspector General of Police to immediately demilitarize the State.
Lawal accused the thugs of becoming willing tools of oppression, victimisation attacking, maiming and killing of the opposition members by the PDP since the inauguration of the administration of Governor Adeleke on November 27, 2022 have turned the entire state into an abattoir for the slaughtering of human beings.
In his words: “I doubt it if there is any credible, free and fair election that can be held in Osun State under the present heavily militarized condition by the PDP thugs.
“We enjoin your good offices to handle the suggested withdrawal of the illegal arms and ammunitions from the PDP political thugs before the House of Assembly elections this Saturday with dispatch.
“What we are saying is that the electorates should be allowed to vote for their choices of candidates without coercion”, Lawal submitted.
In his reaction, Caretaker Chairman of the PDP, Adekunle Akindele said the APC is responsible for building up of arms as he allo called on the IGP to disarm them.
” 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 are credible report that the arms build up also affected entire Ijeshaland and others .
“Since the outcome of Saturday 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,” the statement noted.
“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.
