Member representing Lagelu constituency of Oyo state, Honourable Akintunde Olajide has faulted reports that he was going around motor parks, in company of hoodlums, to intimidate drivers.
Apparently reacting to the allegation of intimidation raised against him by one Bayo Kareem on behalf of a group of road transporters, Olajide while speaking with Tribune Online, also described as unfounded the allegation that he was posing as a political leader in Lagelu area to stop drivers from carrying out their daily job.
Furthermore, he described as untrue the allegation that he carried out the intimidation alongside the factional leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Mukaila Lamidi.
Akintunde described those behind the allegation as ignorant of his antecedents, noting that he had never engaged hoodlums throughout his political career or storm motor parks to intimidate drivers or park operators.
“When I read the report, I said those behind the news do not know me at all. I have never for once gone around parks. I have never, for once, gone to parks, to stop drivers from doing their daily job.
“I don’t have hoodlums. I work with politicians and at no time did I go to any park with hoodlums to intimidate any driver. Why would I do that? There is no reason for that. I have never thought about that and won’t do that. Apparently those who raised the allegations do not know my person at all. Those that know me very well, know that the allegations are unfounded, barbaric and uncivilized.
“The last time I remember I went around my constituency was when we won the election and to say a thank you to everyone. That was before we were sworn in as lawmakers. I have never heard the name of the person that raised the allegation before, one Bayo Kareem.
“If they had known my antecedents, they will know that I have never been associated with NURTW. I never engaged the transport group during my campaign.
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“During the election, the PDP did not have the NURTW because we were not in government. Definitely, that is enough to know that the then APC led government had the NURTW. We didn’t have the power to mobilise the NURTW then.
“I only met Auxiliary while we were trying to have the PDP family. For the records, he has not been around for a while and the only thing I know about him is that he is vying for a position like every other person is and that is all.
“I am not a political leader. I am an honourable member duly elected by the good people of Lagelu. My people love me and that is why they entrusted me with this position and I have been doing my work diligently.
“It is early for anyone to use that group against the government in place because the government has been doing excellently well. The government only has the interest of the people in mind and if anybody is trying to make a statement, they should rather come to us to make the statement rather than use the little money they have on the pages of newspapers.
“I don’t care about where the attack came from. This government is all-inclusive. We are not ready to engage in a war of words with anyone. I appreciate criticism if well-constructed. In this case, it is not criticism but people are just being jealous,” Akintunde said.