By Tayo Joseph Lagos, Nigeria
The police and other security services in the state of Osun have been called upon to make their presence felt at political rallies to arrest escalation of violence which is already rearing its ugly head.
The call was contained in a security alert by the ruling APC as a result of alleged PDP-instigated violence in at least two of APC rallies since campaign began for the West Senatorial District by-election.
In a statement from the party’s Directorate of Publicity, Research and Strategy, signed by its director, Kunle Oyatomi, the party pointed accusing finger at the PDP for causing mayhem in two of its rallies at Ido Osun and Okinni in Egbedore Local Government Area of the state.
The party complained that the PDP had no business interfering during APC rallies in these places, except to provoke violence in order to intimidate its party supporters from active participation in the electoral process.
The statement drew attention of the security agents to what it described as, ‘PDP’s notorious violence’ in the state, which the APC claimed, ‘is a stock in trade of the opposition party since 2005’.
The APC said that it would appear ‘the PDP knows no other way to participate in elections, other than to intimidate supporters of its opponents, through bloody violence.
‘This is not in the best interest of peace, which is necessary for democracy to thrive in the state’, the statement affirmed.
APC therefore called on the police and other security agents in the state to keep a close watch on the PDP ‘before the party creates problem for everybody in Osun.
‘Osun is peaceful and we appeal to the security agencies to ensure that the state remains peaceful throughout the period, especially so, when the APC will be conducting mega rallies this week’.
