SOJI AJIBOLA, Ibadan
Oyo State government has described as untrue the All Progressives Congress claim that Governor Seyi Makinde masterminded last Saturday June 12 protest in Ibadan.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, in a statement on Saturday explained that Governor Makinde ran into the protesters around Osuntokun area of Bodija and as the Chief Security Officer of the state, decided to address them not to take laws into their hands.
Adisa said that it was mischievous for the opposition party in the state to attempt to rope the governor into an event that was clearly organised nationwide by pro-democracy groups.
The statement reads: “Contrary to the wild claims by the APC, Governor Seyi Makinde did not organise the June 12 protests in Ibadan. He only ran into the protesters at Osuntokun Junction in Bodija and addressed them.
“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, it behoves the governor to calm down the protesters and ensure they only protest peacefully. And that was what he did.
“What the APC need to do is to advise its members to stop the perennial display of sadism by celebrating every unwarranted incident in the state.
“It is on record that APC elements, rather than join the push to ensure the sanctity of lives and property in the state, has been busy fuelling embers of discord in their bid to gain political benefit from perceived fallout of the crisis they are surreptitiously engineering.
“The APC should forthwith desist from wishing evil for the state. In a short while the veil will be lifted off those who are fanning the embers of discord.”