The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has challenged Governor Seyi Makinde and the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi to stop shielding criminal members of APM from facing the law.
The SSACO was reacting to the statement by Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi Campaign Organisation accusing it and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State of fingering APM hoodlums in the killing of an APC member Ridwan Adeyemi, and attacks on Mrs Tawakalit Alli, wife of the APC governorship candidate Sen. Sharafadeen Alli; Hon. Remi Oseni; and Hon. Folake Olunloyo-Oshinowo in Ibadan on October 7.
The statement by SSACO’s Director of Media and Publicity Bisi Oladele reads: “It is strange that Hon. Adekanmbi Campaign Organisation can put up a shameless argument that warning Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi against foisting violence on the people of Oyo State is senseless and irresponsible. In its warped argument, the campaign organisation said SSACO’s cry over violence against APC candidates, members and other opposition figures in Oyo State can jeopardise efforts of security agencies and that criminals can capitalise on the situation and hide under the colouring of political violence to kill and attack APC members. What a logic!
“Instead of reining in on their violent goons, allow the people of Oyo State to live in peace and vote for their preferred candidates in the 2027 elections, APM in Oyo State has been coming up with illogical arguments to explain away their guilt.
“First, they claimed that APC members were the ones attacking their own candidates and members. Now, they say that APC has no evidence to pin APM to the killings and other attacks on opposition figures.
“We challenge Governor Makinde and Hon. Adekanmbi to stop shielding their attack dogs from facing the law. They should allow security agencies fish out the killers and attackers within the APM instead of faulting APC’s cries. The hoodlums are visiting violence on innocent people because they are emboldened by their leaders and paymasters. We advise them to respect and preserve the sanctity of human life. We are also reminding them that maintaining peace is the least item in the oath that Governor Makinde swore to as the governor on May 29, 2023.
“No resident deserves to die or be attacked because of party affiliation or political choice. Governor Makinde should be reminded, again, that he won election in an atmosphere of peace in 2019 as an opposition candidate. And he inherited a peaceful Oyo State.
“Instead of explaining away this guilt, we urge Governor Makinde and his stooge to do a soul-searching and take the right path of respect for people’s opinions and political choices. We repeat: No political ambition is worth the life of an Oyo State indigene and resident. No amount of violence will change the decision of the good people of Oyo State to reject the rootless APM in the 2027 elections. Oyo State is desirous of a positive change, and Senator Sharafadeen Alli is on the standby to effect that change through his Oyo-AHEAD agenda.”
