The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State on Tuesday urged the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to engage in lawlessness, and allow security operatives to do their job without hindrance.
In a statement on Monday, spokesman of the governor, Mr. Olawale Rasheed accused ex-Senate spokesperson, Dr. Ajibola Bashiru of harbouring unauthorised police operatives.
The statement also alleged that Bashiru had submitted the list containing names of top PDP leaders in the state slated for arrest by the police.
But in a statement, APC’s acting state chairman, Mr. Tajudeen Lawal said PDP members should not be complaining about the presence of policemen in the state, if they were not engaging in crime.
Lawal, who also cautioned the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke against acts that could denigrate the police institution, declared support for strict action by the law enforcement agents to prevent impunity in the state.
The APC said: “Why must Adeleke and his co-travellers be afraid of the shadow of a policeman if not that they have something to hide, which makes them to be suspected fugitives to justice? Is Governor Adeleke in his wisdom saying that the police should not do their jobs whenever there is need for them to do so?
“What manner of peace is reigning in the state if not the peace of a graveyard after the blood of so many members of our party had been needlessly shed by the PDP goons in order for the PDP candidates to have undeserved victory at the polls”?
Responding, in a statement, PDP state chairman, Mr. Sunday Bisi accused the APC of flaunting the Office of the President to harass and intimidate people.
Bisi, who said APC members were still pained by the defeat its candidates suffered in the last general elections in the state, noted that as a party controlling government, it has the duty to guard the interest of the residents.
“Therefore, any action capable of disrupting the peace being enjoyed by the people of Osun State under the PDP government of Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke will be resisted by whatever means possible under the law.
“We believe the office of the president is for the general interest of Nigerians as against the lazy butterfly confusing political stomach of APC gluttons in Osun State. The president of Nigeria cannot be coerced into destroying Osun State under the guise of resurrecting a dead horse of APC in the state.
“APC should be active in the opposition role they will definitely play for eight years, but they should be reasonable and conduct themselves like the noble men they ought to be”, Bisi said.
