As the All Progressives Congress holds its governorship primary on Saturday, there is an uncomfortable stillness in Osun State.
The animosity stems from a bitter fight for the party’s lone ticket between Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Moshood Adeoti, a former Secretary to the State Government.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior, has nominated Adeoti, a former state chairman of the party.
Ironically, Oyetola was Aregbesola’s chief of staff during his eight-year tenure as governor of the state.
However, the governor’s and minister’s relationship has deteriorated to the point where they now belong to opposing political parties in the state.
Aregbesola has vowed that the incumbent would not be allowed to serve another term.
Also in the race is a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf.
On Friday, a convoy of about 30 trucks of combined security team comprising soldiers, police, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and operatives of the Department of State Services moved around major areas in Osogbo, the state capital in a show of force.
Tension has been on the rise since the beginning of the week when Aregbesola at the APC stakeholders meeting held at Ijebu-Jesha, declared Adeoti as his aspirant for the governorship position and asked members of the party to support him.
Also on the same day, the convoy of the minister was involved in a shooting while passing through Old Garage end of Osogbo.
The incident led to accusations and counter-accusations between Aregbesola’s men and Osun State Government. Also, the issue led to an exchange of words between the police and the NSCDC, as both agencies gave different accounts of what happened during the incident.
While the NSCDC, Osun Command, said operatives of the agencies in the convoy of the minister shot into the air when his convoy came under attack, the police in a statement by the Osun command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, insisted that security men attached to the minister shot without provocation.
The shooting incident also led to a protest by members of the National Association of Osun State Students at the NSCDC command headquarters, as the students accused the operatives of being used as political tools by the former governor.
Supporters of Aregbesola, led by the factional APC chairman, Rasaq Salinsile, had also protested at the police headquarters in the state demanding the removal of the commissioner of police, Wale Olokode.
During the tour to local government areas recently concluded by Oyetola, he called for support of members of the party. Analysts say the warm reception he got in most places visited could be suggestive of a favourable outing.
However, the large attendance at rallies held by Aregbesola in Iwo and Ikire might be an indication that the contest may be tougher than expected.
The camps of Oyetola and Aregbesola have also engaged in a hot exchange of words over the crises in the party.
Speaking in Ikire during the last rally held by Aregbesola’s faction, the former governor accused Oyetola of waging war against him since he was elected governor.
He had said, “I begged him (Oyetola) for two years. I told him that people must not mock us. I told him that he was heading towards destruction. I served this state with the whole of my heart. I also positioned Oyetola so that he could succeed me in office.
“When we came to this town (Ikire) for his campaign, we were drenched in rain from Akire’s palace to this place. He got to the office and claimed I am his enemy. Those who contested against him during our party primary he pulled them closer, while he fights me.
“Since Oyetola assumed office, he has been waging war against me as if I once harmed him. He claimed that I did not want him to emerge as governor. I told him that I heard him and that now he has been governor, what else does he want?
“I begged him for two years. I told him that people must not mock us. I told him that he is heading towards destruction. I begged him for two years. I sent people to help me beg him that he should not love me but he must not fight me, even if he wanted to fight me, he should not abuse me or destroy my legacies.
“All that I warned him not to do were what he did. He opposed what I did, all the things I did together with him for eight years, he opposed and reversed them. He thought he can destroy me through my work; nobody was pushing him, he is the one pushing himself.
“When I observed that he would not listen, I called people together that they should start telling people that progressives family must not be destroyed.
“When Adeoti was angry with us, he did not abuse us. When we refused to do his will, he protested but he never cursed us. We have realised our mistake. That is why we gave him the ticket of our caucus.”
Oyetola didn’t fight Aregbesola – Gov’s aide
But responding, Special Adviser to the governor on Political Affairs, Sunday Akere, said Aregbesola only expressed personal opinion, insisting that Oyetola did not fight his predecessor.
He said, “Our former principal only expressed a personal opinion which no one was privy to. Oyetola did not fight him. He declared that Oyetola’s tenure was his third term and he wanted to be in charge.
“He also promised those close to him that 80 per cent of them would return as cabinet members which did not happen. The former governor thought his eight years tenure was going to be like an eternity. Now, it has ended but he could not believe that reality. The root cause of the issue (disagreement) is what I just said.”
Amotekun raids hotel harbouring suspected hoodlums
Meanwhile, men of Osun Amotekun Corps on Friday raided some hotels and brothels in some major towns in the state suspected to be harbouring hoodlums where some arrests were made.
A security source, who preferred anonymity, said the raid would continue till Saturday morning (today) to ensure criminals did not have a hiding place ahead of the primary.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the Field Commander of Osun Amotekun Corps, Amitolu Shittu, confirmed the raid but did not disclose the number of arrests made.
He said, “We had intelligence reports that hoodlums were hiding in some hotels, brothels and we have carried out some raids already. The raiding occurred in some major towns in the state.
“The raid will continue till Saturday morning. We don’t want any criminal to use any part of the state as a hiding place.”
Our correspondent, who went around the state on Friday evening, observed a large presence of police operatives.
In Iwo, buses conveying a large number of policemen were sighted around Olomowewe Local Council Development Area, Ori Eru and Odoori areas all within Iwo metropolis. The same large number of policemen was noticed at Ede, Osogbo, Ipetu Modu, Ikirun, Otan Ayegbanju, Iresi, Ibokun and others.
In Osogbo, there was a large presence of security men at the state secretariat of the party along Osogbo/Gbongan road.
On the eve of the primary election, Ilesa was generally calm with no unusual presence of security men.
Osun monarch laments as violence erupts at APC sensitisation programme
Also, Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Makama, on Friday alleged stockpiling of arms and ammunition by some people working for politicians across the state.
The monarch’s position was sequel to a violent attack by some people on members of APC during a party sensitisation meeting in Kuta on Thursday.
Olowu in a statement he signed, expressed concern over activities of non-state actors who he alleged had infiltrated the state in order to perpetuate violence.
The statement read in part, “The member representing Ayedire Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and party executives in the local government were having a sensitisation programme when some hoodlums, wielding weapons started shooting sporadically into the defenceless people without any provocation.
“What happened in Kuta yesterday (Thursday) was shocking to everyone. It was the height of irresponsibility. We have never witnessed such brigandage in our area.”
The monarch then admonished politicians and their supporters to eschew violence and called on law enforcement agencies to make more effort and ensure there was no breakdown of law and order as the upcoming election draws nearer.
We’re monitoring border communities, have enough men for poll Police
Osun State Police Command on Friday said it had received more men for deployment during today’s primary.
Its spokesperson, Opalola, during an interview with our correspondent, said attention was also being paid to border communities to ensure that hoodlums were not allowed into the state.
Opalola, however, warned against acts that could jeopardise peace during the exercise, saying policemen that would be on duty across the state had been duly briefed on the expectations from them.
She said, “We are fully prepared for tomorrow exercise. They (police authorities) have sent more hands from neighbouring states. I can’t tell you the actual number of those deployed.
“By God’s grace, we have mounted checks across all boundary communities in the state. They are well fortified. All boundaries are well taken care of, more men have been deployed. No cause for concern. We are fully ready.”
Similarly, the state command of the NSCDC Corps said its commandant, Emmanuel Ocheja, had given a directive to its men and officers to embark on covert operations following allegations that some people had stockpiled NSCDC uniforms and those of the Nigeria Correctional Service with the intent of distributing them to political thugs for use during the congress.
A statement by the spokesperson for the command, Olabisi Atanda, however, gave the assurance that machinery had been set in motion to clamp down on any impostor or group of impostors that would be daring enough to wear the uniform or any accoutrements of the NSCDC to cause mayhem in the state.
The statement read in part, “We shall provide adequate security and maintain peace in the state at all times. The corps is a neutral and non-partisan organisation whose good name, image and principles were built by dint of hard work, patriotism, excellence in service delivery and huge sacrifice to the nation. We will therefore not allow anyone under any guise to destroy the integrity or progress of the corps but we shall continue to work assiduously to defend our mandate as enshrined in the Act.
“Intelligence and Investigation Department has been mobilised to embark on a covert operation, surveillance investigation, and most importantly, to fish out and prosecute hoodlums who are hell-bent in causing chaos in order to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded individuals in the state.”
