Tensions have escalated between the Osun State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) over President Bola Tinubu's planned one-day visit to the state.
The state government, led by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, accused the opposition APC of orchestrating a "sinister" self-sponsored protest during the visit.
According to the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the alleged demonstration aims to disrupt public order, cause a breakdown of law and order, and falsely blame members of the Accord Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alimi described the plan as a "diversionary scheme" to blackmail the Adeleke administration and potentially create grounds for declaring a state of emergency in the state.In a statement, Alimi urged residents to steer clear of Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo, the venue of the president's visit, to avoid being drawn into any unrest.
He emphasized that the government would not be intimidated and expressed confidence that the plot would fail, given the support of peace-loving Osun citizens and the fact that the APC is hosting the president.
The accusations come amid heightened political friction in Osun, including recent defections of two senators and three other National Assembly members from the governor's camp to the APC, as well as ongoing disputes over local government allocations.
In response, the Osun APC dismissed the government's claims as "baseless," "unfounded," and a product of imagination. Spokesperson Kola Olabisi stated that no such protest had been planned by the party or its members against President Tinubu.
He attributed the allegations to Governor Adeleke's frustration over his declining political influence, pointing to the defections and the governor's shift from the PDP to the Accord Party after being denied entry into the APC.
Olabisi further suggested that the governor is envious of the strengthening APC ahead of the August 8, 2026, governorship election, and called on the state Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to monitor Adeleke and his associates, accusing them of projecting their own malicious intentions onto others.
The visit by President Tinubu is reportedly tied to welcoming the defecting lawmakers into the APC fold, highlighting the party's growing momentum in the state.
Both sides have appealed for calm, but the exchange underscores deepening political rivalries in Osun as the state approaches key electoral battles.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com