March 29, 2024

The Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has condemned in strong terms the ‘mindless’ attack on residents of the state, mainly youths, who joined their counterparts in protests against police brutality across the country.

Insightmedia on Thursday reported that some hoodlums attacked protesters in Osogbo, leaving four people injured.

The party ascribed the attack to some members of the All Progressives Congress and those who are sympathizers of Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

The party in a statement by the Deputy State Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Yakub Idowu said it wondered why peaceful protesters eoukb be attacked by elements of the state government, stating that Oyetola should answer when protest was outlawed in the state.

“Some identifiable members of APC and street urchins sympathetic to Governor Gboyega Oyetola led administration had on thursday heckled peaceful protesters in Osogbo with various forms of dangerous weapons to disrupt the state chapter of the ongoing nationwide protest.

“As a party, we wondered why and when peaceful protests became outlawed in the country such that a State Government would descend to the abyss of mobilising armed thugs to unleash violent attacks on innocent citizens in the course of lawful exercise of their fundamental freedom of expression as citizens of the federal republic of Nigeria.

“Idowu challenged Governor Oyetola APC led administration to deploy the seal of authority conferred on him by laws of the land to protect the good people of Osun State in times like this and not use same to unleash crude violence on them.

“The PDP spokesman also berated the APC administration in the state for failing in its responsibility to ensure justice for victims of police brutality and wanton killings in the state, the most recent of which was the brutal killing of Idris Ajibola by a unit under Osun State police command last month.

“Idris Ajibola, recall, was chased by a JTF unit of Osun State command of the Nigerian Police Force until the car he and his friends drove in got crashed. The 21 year old late Idris died on the spot of the fatal crash with his body gruesomely dismembered.

“While applauding a PDP member in the house of representatives, Hon Bamidele Salam of Ede Federal Constituency for the bold steps taken so far to bring Killers of late Idris to justice, the PDP warned APC administration in the state of dire consequences of violent suppression of peoples legitimate disapproval for injustice and reckless bloodshed.

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“One wonders why it has been so difficult for Governor Gboyega Oyetola to come out of his horse of arrogance to address the protesters in the state as witnessed in other states of the federation. The disdain with which the governor has been treating the protesting youths and in this circumstance, was not only reckless but inconceivable of a government in a supposed democracy. Such unproductive arrogance which ostensibly is aggravating volatile emotions in the state must stop forthwith, in order to forestall further breakdown of law and order in Osun State” Ahaji Idowu said.

The PDP also enjoined the protesting youths to remain calm but stand undeterred in the face of clear provocation by those who are being fed by tax obligations of their parents, saying, such irresponsible conduct of APC government in the state should be well noted while making subsequent choices on who to entrust with the tasks of protecting lives and properties as primary function of a responsible and responsive government in the state.

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