By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
The Dagburewe-in-Council has denied allegations that the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Sikiru Kayode Okuribido, stalled the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, campaign rally in the community after the party paid N170,000 “protection fee”.
Also, the Council said the monarch did not aid the alleged destruction of property during the party’s campaign activities on September 16.
The council, at a press conference on Tuesday, said the traditional ruler neither instructed anyone to stop the PDP campaign train from entering Idowa nor participated in any alleged act of violence or destruction associated with the incident.
The briefing was attended by members of the Oloritun-in-Council of Idowa, religious leaders and security operatives.
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Sobaloju of Idowa, Chief Yusuf Olatunji Olusanya, urged the Police and other relevant security agencies to conduct an impartial investigation into the incident, and establish what transpired through eyewitness accounts, police records, bank transactions, photographs, videos and other available evidence.
The genesis
The controversy followed the PDP’s campaign activities in Odogbolu Local Government Area, during which the party alleged that it had planned to hold its campaign flag-off in Idowa, but was prevented from using the venue.
Vanguard had reported the PDP’s claim that it paid N170,000 for the venue but was later prevented from holding its campaign in Idowa township.
Olusanya, however, said the monarch neither stalled the rally nor frustrated the campaign.
He said: “Oba Okuribido did not stall the rally, frustrate the campaign, nor aid the destruction of anybody’s property.
“Nobody, and no government or government agency, instructed anybody or His Royal Highness to stop or disallow the PDP campaign train from entering Idowa.”
According to him, there was also no formal notification letter, to its knowledge, sent to either the community or the palace informing them of the proposed campaign visit.
Olusanya challenged anyone alleging that the monarch deliberately frustrated the rally to produce verifiable evidence rather than rely on reports circulating on social media.
Shootings allegation
He described the allegations of gunshots, looting and destruction of vehicles as serious matters that should be subjected to investigation rather than treated as political exchanges.
He called on the security agencies to establish whether the PDP campaign train actually entered Idowa on September 16 and, if so, determine its approved itinerary and security arrangements.
The council also sought clarification over conflicting accounts concerning the movement of the campaign train.
Chief Olusanya further urged the police to investigate allegations surrounding the reported shooting of the son of one Sakiru Bello, popularly known as Omoh.
He asked the authorities to establish whether the alleged shooting occurred, where and when it happened, who was responsible and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Other issues raised included an allegation that Bello was arrested over the pasting of PDP posters and claims of an alleged N50,000 payment linked to his release.
The council said police records and banking evidence should be used to establish whether the arrest and payment occurred.
Olusanya also questioned the circumstances surrounding the reported payment of N170,000 into community coffers for the use of a venue allegedly sought by the PDP.
According to the council, the agreed payment for the venue was N30,000, while N170,000 was subsequently paid.
He alleged that N140,000 was later approved for refund through a signed cheque bearing the name of Oyinlola Odufuwa, whom the council said had requested the refund, saying that the cheque was reportedly not collected because Odufuwa claimed to have travelled to Abuja.
He maintained that the circumstances surrounding the payment and proposed refund should be established through documentary evidence.
The PDP had earlier said it paid N170,000 into a community account after obtaining approval to use the venue, but alleged that it was prevented from using the facility only hours before the scheduled event.
Olusanya appealed to political actors and residents not to drag the traditional institution into partisan politics.
“Oba Okuribido occupies a traditional position that transcends party politics,” he said.
“If anyone alleges that His Royal Highness stalled a political rally or aided the destruction of property, the proper thing is to present the evidence to the appropriate authorities.”
The council said anyone found to have committed an offence should face the law, irrespective of political affiliation.
“We are not asking for favour. We are not asking for protection for anybody. We are asking for the truth,” the council said.
It urged the security agencies to conduct a “thorough, impartial and transparent investigation” into the September 16 incident.
“Let nobody attempt to rewrite history through social media.
“Let the eyewitness accounts, police records, bank records, photographs, videos and other available evidence speak for themselves,” the council said.
Vanguard News
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