Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the August 15, Osun State Governorship poll, Bola Oyebamiji
The All Progressives Congress candidate in the just-concluded Osun State governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji, has called for peace in the state, urging Governor Ademola Adeleke to prevail on his supporters to stop attacks on APC members.
According to Oyebamiji, five people were assaulted in his hometown, Ikire, in Irewole Local Government Area of the state, on Friday.
Oyebamiji spoke to State House correspondents after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Friday’s meeting came barely 24 hours after Adeleke, who won the election, presented his Certificate of Return to the President at the Villa on Wednesday.
“I want to advise the governor that it’s important for him to talk to his people. Violence against our people is not too good, and he needs to talk to them so that each and every one of us can be on the same page,” he said.
Pressed on the specific allegations of violence against APC members that he had raised in his post-election statement, Oyebamiji confirmed fresh incidents as recently as Friday morning.
According to him, “Even as of this morning, in my own village, Ikire, some were attacked, about four, five people were attacked. We have informed the security operatives accordingly.”
On the outcome of the election, he stated, “The most important thing is to run every election with a peaceful mind.”
“It is important for us Nigerians to know that government is about people, and because it’s about people, it is important that we be peaceful. I want to appeal to our people in Osun that they need to be peaceful.”
He revealed that the APC was still reviewing the outcome of the election internally before taking any formal position.
“For now, the APC is still examining the books, and by the time we spread our sheets, we’ll be able to get back to the public on what our own opinions and what decisions we want to take. But the take-home is that they should be calm,” said Oyebamiji.
Reacting to Oyebamiji’s comment, Adeleke commended the APC candidate for calling for peace in the state.
Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in Osogbo on Friday, described Oyebamiji’s demand for peace as “a positive tone after weeks of heated campaign and election season.”
He said the development was “a good development for the Osun people,” who experienced trauma and violence during the two months preceding the election.
Adeleke called for restraint by all political parties, saying his administration had reviewed the pre-election climate of fear and conflict.
The governor maintained that his team had never subscribed to violence as a weapon of political campaign, even when it came under severe pressure in the countdown to the poll.
Rasheed said Adeleke also recounted the pain he went through in restraining his supporters from retaliating against attacks, alleging that the Accord Party lost 15 members, with 20 injured and scores detained by the police.
“I am forever a man of peace. It is heartwarming that my brother, Oyebamiji, is also preaching peace. I assure him that my supporters have not and will not attack APC members.
“Elections have come and gone and we are all winners. The common task for us all is to sustain delivery of democratic dividends and good governance to the good people of Osun State.
“I welcome Mr Gboyega Oyetola, Bola Oyebamiji and other opposition leaders to join hands with me to take Osun to greater heights. We are all important stakeholders in this Osun project,” Adeleke said.
The Punch
