I read with utter dismay, a statement by the Osun State chapter of the PDP which linked me to disturbances in Osogbo.
For the records, I was not at Ward 11 as first purported by one of the data boys of the party. My Campaign ship berthed at Ward 14 where I was received by an enthusiastic crowd. I did my Campaign peacefully as usual, feeling relaxed and at home among my people.
After the pleasing and pleasant interaction with Gbonmi people,I headed straight with my supporters to my GRA residence. There was no shooting incident in my presence. It was two hours or so after that I received a call from an elder that some miscreants, apparently sent by some people who felt wounded by the warm reception accorded me at Gbonmi, threw the area into chaos and shot sporadically. In the ensuing milieu, as I gathered,two people hit by stray bullet were attended to at a chemist’s shop nearby.
I want to make it clear that I don’t have armed security escort and I don’t move around with any right from when I became a commissioner in our dear state.
These acts of brigandage from those who do not believe in peaceful and orderly elections have to be checked. You do not disturb the calmness of a river where you are sure to fish and make a big catch. The public must know those who are poised to maim and possibly kill them ahead of the elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party has always been irresponsible and ruthless as once referred to as a “nest of killers” by the World acclaimed Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.
Recently, one of their own in Ikirun circulated a video where he made it clear that PDP is ready to kill and maim ahead of the elections, thus confirming the ruthlessness of a rudderless political party called PDP.
I am a popular candidate, widely accepted and loved by the people. How and why will one lose sleep over a Party who is known for electoral fraud, thuggery, corruption and absolute disregard for the people.
I want to appeal to people to remain calm and undaunted in their resolve to send me back to the Senate. We won’t forget in a hurry what they did in the countdown to April 14,2007 election in Osogbo, how they breathed down violence on the people few days to August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State and how their sponsored supporters and thugs went on the rampage on July 17,2022 destroying billboards of APC candidates as they continue to do so till date.
My appeal also goes to security personnel to safeguard lives and property of the electorates in the State as the PDP is ready to instill fear and trepidation in the people as February 25 approaches.
Senator Ajibola Basiru PhD
Osun Central