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The Osun Progressives (TOP), a caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, has alleged that some people in the government and party were planning to attack and assassinate leaders of the group.
According to TOP, the alleged plan had been reported to the security agencies for investigation and other necessary steps.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, TOP Chairman, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi, said the planned attack was as a result of the group’s struggle to restructure and reenergise the party, coupled with the outcome of the last Ward Congress of the APC, where it had a good show.
Also, the Caretaker Secretary of the APC in the state, Hon. Rasaq Salinsile said the leadership of TOP decided to make the evil plan known to the public to avoid casualties, saying that violence was alien to the progressives’ family until some ‘elements’ joined recently.
Salinsile said TOP leadership knows who to hold responsible, should any attack be carried out on any members of the group or those of the party who are loyal to the Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
In his address, Adelowo said: “This urgent press conference is aimed at putting on record, information on attempt by some elements, allegedly within government and our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to attack and murder some of the leaders of The Osun Progressives (TOP).
“It is important that we bring to public knowledge this evil intention. Despite that, we have informed relevant security agencies, who had assured us of taking steps to investigate the information and as well ensure protection of the lives of the leadership and members of our caucus.
“The Osun Progressives has provided hope that tomorrow will be better in APC with the agenda. Because we see better and clearly than members whose personal interests have beclouded the reality that Osun APC leadership, as presently constituted is inept and cannot make it served desired goal.
“The Oyinlola government, which we challenged in the past, was not as virulent as the Governor Oyetola-led government of our party, since the struggle started.
“To think that we jointly worked to hoist the government became a joke on us, as any party member with traceable connections with former governor Aregbesola is excluded from all forms of things in government.
“Upon the failed attempt at getting to uphold their wobbling and fumbling during the last ward congress, helped with the crude use of power, the government and party elements have resulted to self-help of planned attack and assassination, if the need be, of some leadership of TOP.
“We cannot dismiss the information because we witnessed the orgy use of thugs and violence in the conduct of the congress in some local governments, quite alien to the progressives’ political platform.
“Not a few government officials came to collation centres with horde of thugs, cultists carrying dangerous weapons and issuing threats.
“We are not particularly surprised that things have gotten to this extent because the progressives platform has been infiltrated by many men from the party that is popularly known as the nests of killers.
“May we plead with the authorities; starting from President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police, Director General of Department of State Service, Chief of Staff to the President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chief Bisi Akande to quickly intervene and stop desperate elements in Osun APC from spilling the blood of the innocents for their selfish interests.
“Anybody’s selfish interest is not enough to spill another man’s blood, a former President of Nigeria once noted.”