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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the Park Management System (PMS) in Oyo State, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, aka Auxiliary, has denied attacking members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who held a a rally in the state, on Tuesday.
Members and supporters of the APC stormed major streets in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital one Tuesday, to show solidarity and support for party’s presidential and governorship candidates, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Sen Teslim Folarin, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
However, some APC members reportedly sustained serious injuries after they were allegedly attacked by Auxiliary and his boys at Labiran area of the metropolis.
Reacting to the allegation in a statement on Wednesday, the PMS Public Relations Officer Mr Jelili Emiola, said Auxiliary was not at the scene of the incident, adding that the PMS boss did not attack people who are exercising their constitutional rights.
Emiola alleged that APC is fond of pointing accusing fingers at the PMS and Auxiliary anytime the party is rocked with an issue or crisis in the state.
While noting that the PMS is committed to maintaining peace, order and facing its primary duties of running the parks in the state, Emiola urged APC in the state to stop drawing Auxiliary into its internal crisis.
“The news reaching my desk is that members of the Opposition APC in Oyo State that organised a rally on Tuesday and walked across major roads in Ibadan have raised an allegation that they were attacked by PMS Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Alhaji Mukaila Auxiliary and his boys around Labiran.
“The PMS would like to state in unequivocal terms that nothing of such nature happened and Alhaji Auxiliary was not in Labiran or around the area at that moment.
“It should be noted that the PMS members had no reason to attack or interfere with members of the opposition APC because they were exercising their constitutional right to organize rally and walk across the town.
“The PMS is reiterating for the umpteenth time that the opposition APC should stop drawing Alhaji Auxiliary into its internal crisis and affairs. They should keep his name off their mouths.
“And it has also come to the habit of the APC in Oyo State to always mention Auxiliary everytime they have any outing or event just to tarnish his image.
“Auxillary has his own life to live, Oyo APC should keep his name off their lips and face their campaign.
“Lastly, the PMS is committed to maintaining peace, order and facing its primary duties of running the park system in Oyo State,” Emiola’s statement read.