2023: Adeleke and Oyetola bicker over campaign poster vandalism
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and his predecessor Gboyega Oyetola on Saturday exchanged words over the vandalism of campaign posters and billboards in different parts of the state ahead of the general elections.
Mr. Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, accused the former governor of inciting the people of the state against his government.
The governor said the alleged incitement led to vandalism of campaign posters and billboards.
He also said cases of vandalism have increased since the former governor returned to the state last week.
But, Mr. Oyetola's spokesman, Ismail Omipidan, called the allegation mischievous, pointing out that the governor was trying to spread false information.
“Violent activities, including the vandalism of campaign posters and billboards, have increased over the past five days following the return of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to the state. openly preached revolt against state authorities,” Mr. Rasheed said.
"The election is about the people who exercise their right to vote. Our job as political leaders is to market our programs and our candidates, to convince voters to accept us. It is against the order to propagate and to use violence as an electoral tool,” he added.
“I particularly condemn the increasing vandalism of campaign posters and billboards ahead of the election. I was a victim in the last gubernatorial election. Politicians should know that the people are the ultimate decision makers of their leaders,” he said.
“Those involved in these acts of violence must stop immediately. I also order security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone caught destroying candidate billboards and posters, regardless of party affiliation. We need to restore common sense, law and order to our electoral process. »
However, contradicting the governor's claim, Mr Omipidan said members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) had sparked violence against members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) since the election of the governor had been won by the PDP.
“It is common knowledge that even the governor as governor-elect had to issue a public warning to his followers to celebrate in moderation and stop visiting innocent citizens of Osun when they started attacking us after the announcement," he said.
"But since then, it has never calmed down. Contrary to their claims, political violence has been on the rise in the state since November 27, when they took power. The first was recorded on the swearing-in venue on Sunday, November 27, when his men attacked Amotekun operatives. These violent incidents, some of which resulted in loss of life, are well documented by the people of the state,” a- he added.
Mr. Omipidan also accused PDP leaders of sponsoring some of the violence that erupted in the state.
“Ahead of the July 16 gubernatorial election, two of their leading candidates for the National Assembly, Hon. Sanya Omirin and Hon. Lere Oyewumi, openly incited PDP supporters to deploy bombs, grenades and other dangerous weapons against APC members during the elections. We raised the red flag. Our campaign billboards were destroyed by them before and after the election,” he said
“There were a series of attacks in the state before my principal, Oyetola, returned to the state on Monday, January 2. For example, on December 23, PDP thugs attempted to assassinate one of our former commissioners in public in Ilesa,” he added.
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and his predecessor Gboyega Oyetola on Saturday exchanged words over the vandalism of campaign posters and billboards in different parts of the state ahead of the general elections.
Mr. Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, accused the former governor of inciting the people of the state against his government.
The governor said the alleged incitement led to vandalism of campaign posters and billboards.
He also said cases of vandalism have increased since the former governor returned to the state last week.
But, Mr. Oyetola's spokesman, Ismail Omipidan, called the allegation mischievous, pointing out that the governor was trying to spread false information.
“Violent activities, including the vandalism of campaign posters and billboards, have increased over the past five days following the return of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola to the state. openly preached revolt against state authorities,” Mr. Rasheed said.
"The election is about the people who exercise their right to vote. Our job as political leaders is to market our programs and our candidates, to convince voters to accept us. It is against the order to propagate and to use violence as an electoral tool,” he added.
“I particularly condemn the increasing vandalism of campaign posters and billboards ahead of the election. I was a victim in the last gubernatorial election. Politicians should know that the people are the ultimate decision makers of their leaders,” he said.
“Those involved in these acts of violence must stop immediately. I also order security agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone caught destroying candidate billboards and posters, regardless of party affiliation. We need to restore common sense, law and order to our electoral process. »
However, contradicting the governor's claim, Mr Omipidan said members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) had sparked violence against members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) since the election of the governor had been won by the PDP.
“It is common knowledge that even the governor as governor-elect had to issue a public warning to his followers to celebrate in moderation and stop visiting innocent citizens of Osun when they started attacking us after the announcement," he said.
"But since then, it has never calmed down. Contrary to their claims, political violence has been on the rise in the state since November 27, when they took power. The first was recorded on the swearing-in venue on Sunday, November 27, when his men attacked Amotekun operatives. These violent incidents, some of which resulted in loss of life, are well documented by the people of the state,” a- he added.
Mr. Omipidan also accused PDP leaders of sponsoring some of the violence that erupted in the state.
“Ahead of the July 16 gubernatorial election, two of their leading candidates for the National Assembly, Hon. Sanya Omirin and Hon. Lere Oyewumi, openly incited PDP supporters to deploy bombs, grenades and other dangerous weapons against APC members during the elections. We raised the red flag. Our campaign billboards were destroyed by them before and after the election,” he said
“There were a series of attacks in the state before my principal, Oyetola, returned to the state on Monday, January 2. For example, on December 23, PDP thugs attempted to assassinate one of our former commissioners in public in Ilesa,” he added.
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