Irewole PDP condemns political violence in Ikire

......Alleges Oyebamiji’s loyalists behind renewed attacks in Osun

‎The Media Unit, Irewole Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned political violence in Ikire and entire Osun State.

The Media Unit also described a press release issued by a group known as Oyebamiji Media Fronts, for diverting public attention from the disturbing resurgence of criminal elements openly aligned with a Governorship aspirant in the state as baseless.

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‎Contrary to the falsehood being circulated by Oyebamiji’s camp in a press statement issued by the PDP Irewole Chapter Media Unit on Sunday, "the unfortunate killing in Ikire had nothing whatsoever to do with any internal wrangling among members of the Irewole PDP or the road construction project facilitated by the Omo Apesin of Ikire Land and Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator (Akogun) Lere Kamorudeen Oyewumi. 

"That insinuation is not only reckless but deliberately concocted to mislead the public and obstruct the ongoing investigation into the rising violent activities being coordinated by known thugs operating under the political network of Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

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‎"For the record, security reports and community testimonies have consistently linked one Akinkunmi Ojuyobo, a notorious political thug of Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, declared wanted by security agencies during the 2023 general elections for acts of violence, intimidation, and arson, to the renewed wave of attacks and unrest in Irewole and Isokan Local Governments.

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‎"Ojuyobo was earlier in 2023 involved in the brutal killing of a PDP member, Ojubintin, at his residence in Ori-Eru, Ikire. In another disturbing incident, Ojuyobo and his gang also killed Toheeb Bakare, popularly known as Toheeb Yaba, solely because he was a committed PDP member. These unprovoked attacks have been well documented, and the families of the victims are still crying for justice.

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‎"It is shocking that instead of distancing himself from such a character, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji has continued to provide political cover and patronage for Ojuyobo and his gang. Only recently, Ojuyobo was seen moving freely in the company of the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) during an official visit to Irewole/Isokan, an event marred by assaults, harassment, and intimidation of innocent residents by armed loyalists allegedly working for Oyebamiji.

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‎"Also, we have it on credible authority that Abass Oladipupo (Ola Abass), an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has gone far beyond merely shielding criminals. He is alleged to be the key conduit supplying arms and ammunition to Akinkunmi Alabi (also known as Ojuyobo) and his gang, who have been relentlessly terrorizing communities across Irewole and Isokan. As a serving officer of a federal security agency, his involvement in the illegal arming of political thugs is a grave national security breach and a direct affront to the integrity of the NSCDC.

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‎"It is utterly unacceptable that a uniformed officer sworn to protect lives and property would become the armourer of a criminal network being used to unleash terror, intimidate political opponents, and destabilize peaceful communities. 

"The Irewole PDP demands the immediate arrest, interrogation, and dismissal of Ola Abass from the NSCDC pending a full investigation into his role in arming and supporting Ojuyobo’s gang. The silence of the NSCDC leadership on these serious allegations will only be interpreted as complicity or tacit endorsement of criminality within its ranks.

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‎"We therefore call on the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other relevant security agencies to immediately investigate the network supporting Ojuyobo’s activities and to ensure that no individual or political godfather is shielded from accountability.

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‎The Irewole PDP stands firm in demanding justice for victims of political violence and will resist every effort to reintroduce the culture of fear, intimidation, and bloodletting that characterized the worst days of thuggery in Osun politics.

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‎"We urge all security agencies to take urgent steps to bring to justice all those aiding or financing political violence in any guise. No ambition is worth the blood of a single citizen".