Adeleke, Oyetola bicker over vandalisation of campaign posters

Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, and his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, there was a trade of words through the vandalization of campaign posters and billboards in various countries ahead of the general elections.

Mr. Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, accused the former governor of harassing the people of the state against his administration.

The governor said the provocation led to the destruction of campaign posters and billboards.

He also said that cases of vandalism have increased since the former governor returned to the state last week.

However, Mr. Oyetola’s spokesman, Ismail Omipidan, described the allegations as false, insisting that the governor was trying to spread false information.

“Violent activities including the vandalization of campaign posters and billboards have increased in the last five days after former Governor Gboyega Oyetola returned to the state. The former Governor openly preached rebellion against the state authorities,” said Mr. Rasheed.

“Elections are about people exercising their right to vote. Our job as political leaders is to market programs and candidates, to convince voters to accept us. It cannot spread and use violence as an election tool,” he said.

“I especially condemn the destruction of campaign posters and billboards that have been increasing before the elections. I was a victim during the last gubernatorial election. “Politicians must understand that the people are the main determinants of their leaders,” he said.

“Those involved in this act of violence must stop. I also direct the security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone caught vandalizing billboards and candidate posters regardless of party affiliation. We must restore sanity, law and order in our election process.

However, contradicting the governor’s statement, Mr. Omipidan said members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have unleashed violence against members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) since after the governorship election was won by the PDP.

“It is a note that even the governor as the governor-elect should issue public caution to supporters to celebrate moderately and stop visiting violence in Osun innocent citizens when they started to attack us after the announcement,” he said.

“But since then it has never decreased. Contrary to these claims, political violence has been on the rise in the State since November 27 when he took over. The first was recorded at the inauguration site on Sunday, November 27, when the men attacked the Amotekun operation. These incidents of violence, some of which have resulted in casualties, have been well documented by the people of the State,” he said.

Mr. Omipidan also accused PDP leaders of sponsoring some of the violence that erupted in the state.

“Before the July 16 governorship election, the two National Assembly candidates, Hon. Sanya Omirin and Hon. Lere Oyewumi, openly encouraged PDP supporters to distribute bombs, grenades and other dangerous weapons against APC members during the election. We raise a red flag . Our campaign billboards were vandalized before and after the election,” he said

“There were several attacks in the State before my Principal, Oyetola returned to the State on Monday, January 2. For example, on December 23, PDP thugs tried to kill one of our former commissioners in public in Ilesa.” he added.

“Again, on December 28, PDP thugs stormed the Best Suites and Hotel in Taman Merdika, in Osogbo, run by one of our former commissioners, beating everyone in sight, including guests, and even injured the Manager of the place. They also emptied the bar. Is it the Principal that day?” he asked.

“Was the Headmaster in town on December 31 when PDP openly engaged in a supremacy battle at the New Year crossover night venue?,” he said.

The former governor’s spokesman said the presence of Mr. Oyetola intimidated the state government.

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Also read: 2023: Police warn as thugs vandalize PDP, APC campaign posters in Ogun

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“I could go on and on. But let’s leave it at that for now. I learned through some foot soldiers that they are afraid of the presence of the Headmaster in Osun, so they have been holding secret meetings on how to release Osun and hang him by the neck. However, this will also fail like all previous plans against us,” he said.

“He has seen another failure in the wild goose hunt. The people of Osun know people who are used to using extrajudicial methods by deploying non-state actors to deal with their opponents without mercy. This does not suit the personality and character of my principal.