JUDICIAL HARASSMENT OF POLITICAL OPPONENTS AND OSUN 2022 ELECTION

Governor Oyetola must stop using the judiciary as a tool to silence dissent by harassing members of Osun APC and other political opponents as we approach Osun 2022 governorship election. It is clear that Governor Oyetola will rely on force and intimidation to win Osun 2022 election since he is no longer popular. Members of Osun APC must be allowed to carry out their legitimate work without fear of persecution. Governor Oyetola must stop using the judiciary to harass political opponents. Governor Oyetola failed when he refused to submit Aregbesola’s name for ministerial appointment; Governor Oyetola failed when he used thugs to conduct Osun APC ward congress and now he is confused whether to revoke the certificate of occupancy of Oraminyan House in Osogbo. Governor Oyetola has resorted to the use of judicial harassment of political opponents since he is no longer popula in Osun.

The Caretaker Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun, Hon Rasaq Salinsile and former Chairman of the party, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi were arraigned recently before an Osogbo Magistrate Court. Arraigned alongside Salinsile and Adebiyi are former Commissioner for Works and Transports, Engr. Kazeem Salami, former Commissioner for Youth, Sports and others. All leading members of All Progressive Congress, Osun State chapter were arraigned before Osogbo Magistrate Court. They were arraigned before Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara by the police on the allegations of assault, conspiracy, among others. There is a central flaw in the argument because Governor Oyetola is desperate. The Caretaker Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun, Hon Rasaq Salinsile and former Chairman of the party, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi were arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate Court.  It is sad to state that Governor Oyetola is not ripe yet to manage a public office. Governor Oyetola does not understand that every appointment and project must revolve around the party. This makes the fear of losing party ticket and election very serious and dreadful. Governor Oyetola therefore, is fighting dirty to clinch power to avoid the unpleasant experience of losing elections and losing relevance, and in fact losing everything.

Arraigned alongside Salinsile and Adebiyi are former Commissioner for Works and Transports, Engr. Kazeem Salami, former Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Special Needs, Com. Biyi Odunlade, former Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation, Barr. Gbenga Akano, a member of the APC in Ilesa, Alaba Popoola and Azeez Adekunle .

They were arraigned before Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara by the police on the allegations of assault, conspiracy, among others. Defence Counsels, Abdulfatai Abdulsalam and Muftau Adediran applied for the bail of the APC chieftains on self recognisance. Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara granted bail to
Salinsile, Adebiyi, Salami, Odunlade and Akano, on self recognisance in a sum of N5 million each. The Magistrate also admitted Alaba and Adekunle to bail in a sum of N5 million with one surety each. The surety must either be a civil servant or house owner residing within the jurisdiction of the magistrate. The case was adjourned till September 24 for mention.

Out of desperation, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun nominated members of the Osun APC Ward Congress and Appeals committee, a caucus of the party in the state, The Osun Progressives has alleged. This, the caucus believed the Governor did as the representative of the South West in the National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee to protect his interest especially the bid to get the ticket to contest next year’s governorship election in the state.

TOP Chairman, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi in a statement described as ruse, purported report of the Ward Congress Appeal Committee that entertained petitions filed by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the Ward Congress held on July 31, 2021 in the State of Osun.

Adebiyi who stated that his caucus which did not expect the two committees to be fair in their assignment and as such carried out the process in line with the directives of the National Secretariat of the party just as he expressed dismay in the absence of logic in the said report circulated on social media.

TOP said should the said report be eventually true, it will not be surprised because of its experience with the Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye Congress committee.

“We say with all sense of responsibility that we will not be surprised because the Appeal Committee might also carry out the shady job for who procured it like that of Elegbeleye committee.

“All members of the two committees were nominees of Governor Gboyega Oyetola as the representative of the South West in the National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

“As Oyetola’s nominees, we are not in any doubt that they will do his bidding and ensure that his interest is fully protected.

“In real terms, rather than expect them to be fair and just, TOP busied itself with carrying out the process and procedures dutifully as stated by the National Secretariat of the party.

“We were engaged in the path of righteousness because we are of the opinion that truth will always triumph in the face of lies and tyranny, no matter how long it takes.

“We are also of the view that our party, the APC will not allow injustice to take root in its operations as we will continue to explore all means by which no member is shortchanged to the extent of working against the interests of the party.”

Adebiyi added that the report still in doubt lied as TOP submitted petitions in 285 wards as against the 32 it claimed it received.

“In the context of that report also, the committee equally lied that they took all petitions whereas they took only about five local governments and promised to take the rest through the lawyers whose attempted calls they refused.

“Like that of Elegbeleye committee, the appeal committee said nothing and failed to adjudicate on the fact that two sets of aspirants obtained forms for all positions in Osun APC and that while we purchased through acceptable individual bank tellers, the other group used single teller to mop up all the forms they precluded others from buying.

“They did not say anything about the idea of Governor Oyetola imposing his cronies on the party in the name of consensus even when other members of the party obtained forms, instead of real competitive congress in such situation. They did fail to tell the whole world, whether the idea of consensus introduced into the APC Constitution is the same thing as imposition which Governor Oyetola is trying to do in Osun APC

“These are jokes carried too far by the compromised persons handpicked by Governor Oyetola to do the conscience-less dirty jobs which they have done well but which we are sure will not be allowed to stay or thrive by the National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

“Indeed, we call on the National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee to refuse the subjudiced report and preclude our governor from further participation in its activities as he has compromised his integrity. “Even when we intend to formally pursue our case to logical and justifiable conclusions, we will never give in to repressive tendencies presently exhibited by the government and its people in the state,” the TOP Chairman stressed.

Inwalomhe Donald writes from Osogbo, Osun State