A group, The Osun Masterminds, has warned against any “clandestine” attempt by anyone to intimidate any of the governorship candidates ahead of the July 16 gubernatorial election in the state, AMILOADED reports.
The Osun Masterminds made this known in reaction to the attack on the residence of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the state, Hon. Lasun Yusuff, by unknown gunmen.
The group, however, urged security agencies to immediately conduct detailed investigation into the attack and unravel the identities of the perpetrators and their “sponsors”.
It made this known at a press conference addressed by the TOM Executive Director, Dr. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, on Wednesday.
Oyedokun-Alli stressed that the group’s advocacy has been based on the need to ensure that the future of Osun State is “safeguarded through all-encompassing political participation guided by respect for the rule of law and concern for the growth, development and posterity of our dear Osun State.”
He said, “Some days ago, the home of Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff, the Labour Party Governorship candidate, was reportedly besieged by unknown gunmen who were reported to have shot sporadically for a period. Almost immediately, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives was quoted as saying he knew that the attack was orchestrated by Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola.
“The Governor’s camp, through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ismail Omipidan, has since responded to the allegations, stating that while the Governor could never have been responsible for any attack on anyone, it doubts any event of that nature ever occurred, also charging security agencies to conduct thorough investigations into the cause of the unfortunate event, if it ever occurred.
“We are concerned that a few days to the election, issues like this are cropping up in the polity, needlessly supercharging the atmosphere and making it unsafe for ordinary citizens of the State.
“Firstly, we condemn in its entirety, any clandestine attempt by anyone to intimidate any of the candidates. We believe that our electoral process has matured beyond such barbaric approach to winning elections. We therefore condemn the act in its entirety and urge security agencies to immediately conduct detailed investigations into the unfortunate incidence and unravel the identities of the perpetrators and their sponsors.
“Secondly, we find it preposterous and rather unfortunate that Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff had so quickly pointed accusing fingers at another candidate when there has still not been any sort of investigation into the matter by relevant security agencies. Such hasty and still-baseless accusations make it easy to think the entire narrative was hatched by him to discredit and blackmail another candidate.
“Attempts at blackmailing other candidates are as devilish as attempts to intimidate other candidates. We say with all sense of responsibility, that Rt. Hon. Yussuff’s hasty accusations are as faulty and undemocratic as the attempts by anyone to intimidate him. His rights under the law guarantee him access to security agencies in situations like this, instead of making inciting statements that may have further heightened tensions in the State. We can have a successful election without such resorts to unlawful methods.
“We again urge security agencies to as a matter of urgency, investigate the reported event with the aim of unraveling the identity of the perpetrators. We also urge Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff to work with security agencies in this regard, instead of making such reckless accusations that will set the State on the path of anarchy.”
Speaking on voter apathy ahead of the forthcoming governorship election, the TOM Executive Director, called on voters in Osun State to troop out and participate in the election on Saturday.
“We are well aware of the deployment of over 20,000 Police personnel to secure the process. We are also aware that men of the Nigerian army will be on ground, alongside several other security agencies, to provide security for all participants in the election. Citizens therefore have a guarantee of security and can freely go and exercise their franchise.
“We are also well aware of the positive advancements in the country’s electoral laws, giving birth to several innovations that will make votes count. We are convinced that INEC’s new procedures guarantee transparency of the electoral process. Citizens therefore can trust the process to reflect their true desires.
“We urge all citizens of the State with valid Permanent Voters Cards to participate in the election on Saturday as it is their opportunity to influence the governance of our dear State,” Oyedokun-Alli added.
He continues, “We believe that the current State of the affairs of Osun State imposes a certain quality of leadership on the State. A leader who will lead Osun at this sort of time, must be one with strong mental alertness, high capacity for fiscal management and a strong capacity to deliver success despite serious limitations of resources.
We have therefore consistently advised the people of Osun to pay close attention to the track record of each of the candidates presenting themselves for election. Osun is at a time in her history, when we cannot afford to gamble with leadership. We cannot afford to hand the State over to charlatans at this critical period.
“Citizens must therefore interrogate the plans and programmes of each of the candidates and decide the best person in whose hands they feel the State will be safest. It is not a time for irrelevant emotions; it is a time for deep reflection and rejection of any candidate that lacks the understanding of the issues at hand and the best way to manage them.
“We must vote for candidates with proven capacity first who can provide visionary leadership and then ensure they bring on board equally capable members of cabinet when they eventually get into office. We cannot afford to vacate the need for high mental capacity in the person who would head government.
“We encourage Osun people to go to the polls with this in mind – Osun requires a leader with high mental capacity and enviable track record; we handing the collective destinies of our dear State to this person and must ensure they understand the enormity of this task.
While warning against vote-buying, Oyedokun-Alli urged the people of Osun State to “make the best voting decisions for their future” in the Saturday gubernatorial election.
The TOM Executive Director said, “It is unfortunate that at this time in the history of our State and country, a lot of citizens are still considering selling their votes. This is dangerous and we condemn it in its entirety.
“We plead with citizens of Osun to kindly make the best voting decisions for their future. Taking money for votes is equal to selling our collective destinies to hawks who have nothing to offer our dear State. We all must reject the pittance they will be offering to buy our votes and decide with our clean consciences, whom we prefer to direct the affairs of our State for the next four years.
“If we continue to choose right, we will all eventually get out of the poverty ravaging our society. It is impossible to get our governance right if we continue selling our votes.
“We commend all relevant agencies involved in the planning and execution of the July 16 governorship election in our dear State and we plead with them to remain neutral and committed only to the true tenets of democracy.”
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