The All Progressives Congress in Osun State and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party on Friday traded accusations, following the opposition party’s allegation that hoodlums working for the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, planned to raze its state secretariat in Osogbo.

The APC, in a statement by its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, told security agencies in the state to be wary of plots by hoodlums allegedly loyal to Adeleke, masquerading as protesters in the ongoing national protest to burn down the party’s secretariat and Ileri Oluwa House which served as Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Secretariat.

Lawal further stated that his party has every reason to believe that Adeleke was the mastermind of the protest against the administration of President Bola Tinubu in the state, adding, “We have dependable intelligence information that it was Governor Adeleke who has been arming his men during the protest under the pretext of embarrassing President Tinubu.

“There is a credible intelligence linking the governor with the sponsorship of the rampage in Osun State as some of his appointees and chieftains of the PDP were visibly captured playing leading roles in the protest in Osogbo on Thursday and Friday.

“APC has alerted the state Police Command and other statutory security services in the state to be wary of a sinister plan of the hoodlums loyal to the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who are masquerading as protesters in the ongoing national protest to burn down the state party secretariat of the APC and the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Secretariat, all in Osogbo, the state capital.”

Reacting, Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, accused APC of planning to raze down its secretariat and pin the crime on PDP, noting that it was the ruling party that deployed security to the building after it uncovered the planned arson.

Bisi in his statement said PDP had uncovered the plot on Thursday night and alerted security operatives who deployed personnel to prevent self-inflicted arson by the disgruntled opposition elements.

He added, “It is to that end that we urge the police and the secret service to summon the state APC leaders for interrogation to prevent disruption of peace in Osun State. Unless the opposition leaders are promptly interrogated, the state may be exposed to danger from an opposition group that is as violent-minded as to plan to set ablaze its own structures to score political points.

“At this point, the state APC leaders should be aware that security reports on its evil plot have reached Abuja and that her leaders would be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Osun State. We submit that the opposition is worried that Governor Ademola Adeleke has successfully managed the national protest in Osun State without any untoward incidents. We warn against dark elements within the APC who are seeking blood and destruction to blackmail the state government.”

Credit: punchng.com