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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has alleged that the state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, has rebranded operational vehicles of the state’s security outfit, Amotekun corps, into police colours and also distributed police uniforms to some political thugs with a view to earning them legitimacy to move round polling units during Saturday’s governorship election and perpetrate electoral malpractices in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan, Oyo APC wondered why the governor was hellbent on perpetrating electoral fraud, despite the “widespread lies and innuendos from his propaganda machines that he’s a performer, one who doesn’t even need any campaigns to win reelection in the state.”
“Is the governor now afraid of his own shadow, to the point he’s ready to do just about anything to get re-elected?” the party queried.
The party called on police to investigate the matter, so that the “governor does not succeed in his evil plans, capable of throwing the state into pandemonium.”
Oyo APC also enjoined residents of the state to be watchful as they go out on Saturday to perform their civic responsibility in order not to fall into the hands of “state-sponsored terrorists in the mould of Amotekun, now rebranded as the police.”
“Clutching on to all available straws, Governor Makinde, having reached his wits-end, is willing and ready to do just about anything, including doing the unthinkable; such as rebranding operational vehicles and sewing police uniforms for Amotekun corps.
“As a party and people; stakeholders in this state’s project, we shall do all that’s legally permissible to ensure the safety and security of our people before, during and after Saturday’s polls.
“What baffles us as a law-abiding party is why the state’s chief security officer will be the one to make the state ungovernable. Is this just about winning an election, or more about hating the good people of Oyo State to the point of harming and maiming them?,” Sadare queried.
Oyo APC noted that it wasn’t surprised about the governor’s latest antics, especially as it relates to the disruption of public peace, saying “due to his penchant for violence, advertised in his association with an ex-convict, Mukaila Lamidi Auxiliary, chairman of the state’s park management system, who despite his notoriety and allegations of committing grievous capital offences, has remained a sacred cow, who is now emboldened and goes about terrorising the people.”