AS Nigerians file out to cast their votes on Saturday’s election, the leadership of the Osun State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have engaged in a war of words over alleged violent attacks in some parts of the state.
PDP, in a statement made available to Tribune Online, on Thursday, called on the Inspector General of Police, Director of SSS and the Civil Defence to rescue their members in Ila Local Government Area who were said to have been serially attacked by thugs, allegedly loyal to and sponsored by APC.
PDP leadership in the local council, in the statement signed by its chairman and secretary, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaitan and Mr Diran Ayanbanji, respectively, called on the security agencies to the aid of its members and prevent further harms coming their way from some security operatives, allegedly hired by the ruling party in the state.
“We are calling on the IGP and other security agencies to save the lives of our members from these thugs who are loyal to APC and who have made life unbearable for them in Ila-Orangun township and its environs in Osun State.
“Hundreds of members of our party have been brutalised, maimed, injured and assaulted severally in the last two weeks. Many of them are now living under fear and apprehension.
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“About 27 PDP members living at Isedo and Oke-Ede areas of the town were attacked with dangerous weapons and wounded severely on Wednesday night and were still admitted in various hospitals in the state.
“We are calling on the IGP to direct the state Commissioner of Police and other security operatives to prevent the further arrest of our law-abiding citizens on a cooked up allegations.
“The attack on our members is a ploy to disfranchise several PDP members and supporters in the federal constituency during tomorrow’s elections,” the statement read.
Reacting, however, the state publicity secretary of APC, Kunle Oyatomi, denied the allegation, saying PDP was the purveyor of lies, adding that its members were the masterminds of the violent attacks in the local council and some other parts of the state.
He told Tribune Online that, “The only thing is that comments are free but facts are sacred. They are free to say anything, but we know them in PDP as purveyors of lies.
“When they wounded and injured our members, it was on the television and the whole saw the victims. Is it APC members that would be attacking themselves?
“18 members of our party who were wounded were by PDP thugs were taken to a hospital at Asobiaro here in Osogbo, on Tuesday, all soaked in blood. They were first treated in Ila before they were transfered to Osogbo for better treatment.
“These PDP thugs were armed to the teeth to cause trouble. They have a lot of questions to answer. We are not relenting; we are pursuing the matter to a conclusive end.
“Houses and cars of five APC leaders were burnt down in Igangan on Wednesday. Yet they are accusing APC of causing trouble.
“They are evil people. They can continue in their evil act for a while, but they cannot sustain it forever because God is faithful and He is not behind evil people and evil acts,” he said.
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