NPF contradicts NSCDC report over attack on Aregbesola in Osogbo – Nexus News
The leaderships of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday released a contradictory report over the attack on the former governor of Osun State and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in Osogbo, on Monday.
Responding to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Olawale Olokode, portrayed it as an act likely to rupture public peace.
In a communique made available to newsmen by Yemisi Opalola, the spokesperson of the command, Olokode reported that the minister was moving with security and some unknown thugs when the incident happened.
The CP stated that Aregbesola’s security details were shooting without provocation, noting that he was not attacked by any thug.
Speaking witherward, the Osun NSCDC Commandant, Emmanuel Ocheja, ascertained that “unknown hoodlums” attacked the convoy of Aregbesola.
In a press release made available to journalists by the spokesperson of the command, Atanda Olabisi, the NSCDC reported that it was an attack on Aregbesola but his security details were able to dissipate the hoodlums.
MEANWHILE, loyalists of Aregbesola and those of the former governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, have traded blame over the reported shooting that occured in Osogbo on Monday.
While the Alhaji Rasaq Salinsile-led faction of the All Progressives Congress in the state accused that there was a plot by Oyetola to kill the Minister of Interior, Special Adviser to Governor Oyetola on Political Affairs, Sunday Akere, stated that there was no truth in the accusation.
Salinsile raised the alarm in a communique issued by the faction’s Publicity Secretary, Abiodun Agboola.
Akere noted that there was no truth in the claim that Aregbesola wanted to be killed, stating that Aregbesola’s loyalists raised false alarms so as to cause a crisis in the state, get sympathy and make the Federal Government impose a state of emergency in the state.
ALSO, the civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has revealed that there is a need for security agents to quickly end the unfolding political thuggery in the state.
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The group, in a press release yesterday by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, stated that the call becomes urgent with the supremacist fight and the battle-line drawn by Aregbesola with his successor and governor of the state, Oyetola, ahead of Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in the state.
HURIWA, therefore, implored the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, to mobilize mobile policemen and anti-riot operatives for Saturday’s APC primary in Osun State.
“The Monday shooting is only a precursor to greater danger looming in the state this political season. Security agents must be at alert and rein in mischief-makers and political thugs no matter whose camp they belong to.
“Political office holders, whether at the state or federal levels, must desist from using elections as a show of might and to cause a breach of public peace.
“While HURIWA is not concerned about the rivalry between Aregbesola and Oyetola factions within the APC, it is important to call on the APC leaders at the center, including President Muhammadu Buhari to call Aregbesola, Oyetola and other warring factions to order ahead of Saturday’s governorship primary.
“Politics thrive in the absence of tension, intimidation and threat to life. Members of the APC in Osun should go peacefully to the ballot this Saturday and elect their candidate. Oyetola, Aregbesola and other factional leaders in Osun APC should be made to sign a peace pact before February 19, 2022. Both Oyetola and Aregbesola should be held accountable for any breach of public peace arising from the governorship primary election this Saturday.”
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