Bola Oyebamiji, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the recently conducted Osun State governorship election, has called for calm in the state, imploring Governor Ademola Adeleke to persuade his supporters to quit attacking APC members.
According to Oyebamiji, five persons were assaulted in his hometown of Ikire, in the state’s Irewole Local Government Area, on Friday.
Oyebamiji talked with State House media after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Friday’s meeting came just 24 hours after Adeleke, who won the election, handed his Certificate of Return to the president at the Villa on Wednesday.
“I want to advise the governor that it’s important for him to talk to his people. Violence against our people is not too good, and he needs to talk to them so that each and every one of us can be on the same page,” he said.
Speaking on the specific allegations of violence against APC members that he had raised in his post-election statement, Oyebamiji confirmed fresh incidents as recently as Friday morning.
According to him, “Even as of this morning, in my own village, Ikire, some were attacked; about four or five people were attacked. We have informed the security operatives accordingly.”
Speaking on the outcome of the election, he stated, “The most important thing is to run every election with a peaceful mind.”
“It is important for us Nigerians to know that government is about people, and because it’s about people, it is important that we be peaceful. I want to appeal to our people in Osun that they need to be peaceful.”
He disclosed that the APC was still reviewing the outcome of the election internally before taking any formal position.
“For now, the APC is still examining the books, and by the time we spread our sheets, we’ll be able to get back to the public on what our own opinions are and what decisions we want to take. But the take-home is that they should be calm,” said Oyebamiji.
Speaking on Oyebamiji’s comment, Adeleke commended the APC candidate for calling for peace in the state.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in Osogbo on Friday, Adeleke described Oyebamiji’s demand for peace as “a positive tone after weeks of heated campaign and election season.”
He noted that the development was “a good development for the Osun people,” who experienced trauma and violence during the two months preceding the election.
Adeleke urged all political parties to exercise caution, saying his administration has studied the pre-election climate of fear and violence.
The governor insisted that his team had never used violence as a political campaign tool, even as it faced intense pressure in the run-up to the election.
Rasheed claimed Adeleke also described the agony he endured in preventing his supporters from retaliating against attacks, stating that the Accord Party lost 15 members, 20 were injured, and scores were held by police.
“I am forever a man of peace. It is heartwarming that my brother, Oyebamiji, is also preaching peace. I assure him that my supporters have not and will not attack APC members.
“Elections have come and gone, and we are all winners. The common task for us all is to sustain delivery of democratic dividends and good governance to the good people of Osun State.
“I welcome Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, Bola Oyebamiji, and other opposition leaders to join hands with me to take Osun to greater heights. We are all important stakeholders in this Osun project,” Adeleke said.
