…says ‘he wants me jailed on trumped up charges’
A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain in Ogun State, Comrade Niyi Osoba, has said that a leader of the party in the state, Senator Buruji Kashamu, should be held responsibility if any untoward thing happens to him.
Osoba stressed that if he should suffer any mysterious death or assassination at this point in time, Kashamu should be arrested and prosecuted by security agencies.
He raised the alarm following his arraignment on Wednesday last week before a Magistrate’s Court in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, a development he alleged was influenced by Kashamu and his media aide, Austin Oniyokor.
Osoba, who is a former chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Ogun State, in a statement, also accused Kashamu of desperately wanting to use his influence and wealth to send him to jail on trumped up charges in order to continue to hold on to the PDP structure in the state.
According to him, “Sensing the desperation and antics of Senator Buruji Kashamu on retaining the PDP political structure in Ogun State and his subterfuge against me, I want to put it on record that if any mysterious death or assassination comes to my life at this moment, Senator Buruji Kashamu should be suspiciously fingered, arrested and prosecuted.”
He explained that his arraignment was a ploy to intimidate and shut him up, using alleged questionable wealth to mete out injustice to him.
Osoba said, “Our arraignment at the Magistrate’s Court, Ijebu Ode, on Wednesday, 3rd of June, 2020 and caused by Senator Buruji Kashamu and Mr Austin Oniyokor, on trumped up charges vis-a-vis conspiracy, defamation, threat to life and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace are concoctions, fabrications and absolute falsehood.
“I repeat, all the charges are framed up, forlorn and non-existent. God will shame our adversaries as HE remains God of Justice. I beseech God to intervene in the affairs of PDP Ogun state. He should put a total stop to the tyranny and the shenanigans of the money bags, who had caused unprecedented havoc, retrogression, division, bastardisation and misfortune to a once upon a time the achievements packed, strongest and ruling party ( PDP ) in Ogun State under His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
“Ogun state people are highly educated, conscious and pragmatic. They know much about what goes around in their environment and, therefore, one does not need extra effort to persuade or convince them on such matters. They know facts from falsehood, they know the truth from blackmail, they know realism from figment of imagination or paranoia and they also know the antecedent, background, personality, status, disposition, traits and otherwise of every individual. They can never be confused by any human machination nor propaganda as well as blackmail.”
Osoba vowed to maintain his stance against injustice and oppression by anyone in the PDP in Ogun State, saying, “I enjoin other progressive-minded people to join this civil crusade and non-violent evangelism that enough of deceit, insincerity, camouflage and trade-off of PDP electoral victories by those who are not genuine politicians and compatriots. They should take their leave or be lawfully disgraced out.
“The national leadership of PDP must remain resolute and united, in thoughts and vision, more than ever before to do all that are required to salvage this party in Ogun State by constitutionally removing the cankerworm and foreign body that is impeding our freedom, growth, unity and ascendance to the seat of governance of the state. This is a task that must be done.
“Please, note that the ENEMIES of Progress shall take offence at this piece and therefore begin to unleash their malicious and venomous attacks, lies and blackmailsagainst my person. Let me assure you that I will not dignify them with any response but approach the Courts appropriately for any defamation or/and threat to life.”
The PDP chieftain added, “If any money bags thinks he can manipulate the court to convict me on trumped up charges, he is mistaken. Many human rights activists, nationalists, labour leaders and political activists have suffered terribly, including unjust arrest, detention, conviction and jail sentences for wanton charges but later triumphed and later vindicated. No amount of victimisation can change my principle.
“I wish to admonish and advise the authorities of the Nigeria Police and the Judiciary as a whole to be wary of moneybag politicians, who may want to pervert the course of Justice by their questionable wealth and underserved influence.”