Iyiola Omisore's Organization Denies Killing APC Supporter In Ilesha

Our attention has been drawn to a news item in the PM news, titled "Osun Election: Omisore supporters kill APC ...member"
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Ordinarily, we wouldn't have bothered to react to such jejenu story since it was coming from the stable of PM News, a newspaper that is sympathetic to the All Progressives Congress, APC , and will do anything to curry the favour of the party. Moreso, we are aware that Its Editor-In-Chief, Mr. Bayo Onanuga is running for the senate on the platform of APC. We respond to set the records straight and correct the erroneous impression that we were the aggressor. We state as follows:

That the governor of Osun state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is noted for his penchant for thuggery. In the last few month, he has said consistently that his supporters should go to polling booth with charms, amulets , cudgels and other weapons. At other time he urged his supporters to confront the military and slug it out with them. His slogan at politically rally across Osun state has been, " how many people soldiers go kill o, how many people soldiers go kill, hey then go kill us tire". He also said recently that he does not look like a governor. " Do I look like a governor? Aregbesola asked rhetorically. He now went on to say that he came from the street and will go back to the street. If we may ask,where is Aregbesola's trait of Omoluwabi in these careless statements meant to incite the people and cause disaffection. It is also a fact that Aregbesola has a standing army code named ' state boys'.

Now to the Ilesa story that has been distorted by the PM News, a publicity arm of the APC, to suit the whims and caprices of its leaders .

The campaign train of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came under attack at Ilesa rally shortly after its gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming August 9 election in Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore and other PDP party leaders paid a courtesy visit to Owa Adumila of Ijesaland, HRM Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran in his palace
The DSS officers attached to Senator Omisore were injured in the attack. Also, the vehicle conveying the party chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa was badly smashed though both Omisore and other party Chiefs escaped unhurt.

The attack was allegedly led by the “state boys”, a group of political thugs working for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was actually the APC supporters that instigated the violence.
Since the commencement of our rallies, we have not recorded any violence or breach of the peace. You will recall that Aregbesola had said at different campaign fora that Osun would march on blood if he fails to win the August 9 governorship poll.

Out of desperation to win at all costs, Aregbesola had on four occasions called on voters to go to polling booths with charms and weapons and that they should also confront soldiers in defending their votes. So, what happened in Ilesa on Friday may be a signpost of their planned violence before, during and after August 9, 2014.

Signed
Prince Diran Odeyemi
Director, Media & Strategy