- Your allegations baseless, lawmaker tells governor
BY
TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the immediate past spokesperson of the Nigerian Senate, Ajibola Basiru, of planning to cause mayhem in the state by importing unauthorised policemen to the state.
Adeleke, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Monday, raised the alarm to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba and urged him to call Basiru to order.
The governor is of the ruling People’s Democratic Party in the state while Basiru is a chieftain of the major opposition party, All Progressives Congress.
Governor Adeleke accused Basiru of attempt to arrest some politicians in the state on trumped up charges.
“We urgently bring to the attention of the Inspector General of Police, the State Commissioner of Police and the general public that former Senator Ajibola Basiru has imported some unauthorized policemen into Osun state to create confusion, mayhem and destabilise the peace and stability of the state.
“The former Senator is reported to have submitted a list of top leaders of the People’s Democratic Party and Osun state government for arrest on trumped up charges. We reliably gathered that the Osogbo born politician is personally coordinating the team in gross violation of extant laws and practice of law enforcement.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police to order the immediate withdrawal of such policemen as their invitation under the control of a politician constitutes a grave threat to the peace and stability of Osun state. We urge the Commissioner of Police to urgently look into the matter before a breach of peace across the state.
“We use this medium to inform Osun people that the said Senator is today a direct threat to the peace of the state. At a time when the state is witnessing a return to good governance, it is reprehensible for any stakeholder to decide to create mayhem and instability.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke hereby restates his resolve to tackle this matter headlong and ensure that no individual no matter how highly placed is allowed to plunge the state into conflict,” the statement reads.
Reacting in a statement, Basiru described the governor as a clown who is jittery that APC would take over reins from him in 2026.
He dismissed the allegations, saying they are “ridiculous, baseless and could only come from such unserious quarter.”
“My attention has been drawn to a press statement with creaming headline “Call Ajibola Bashiru to Order, Gov Adeleke Tasks IGP” purportedly signed by one Mallam Olawale Rasheed.
“In the said statement, the governor was said to have alleged that I have imported some unauthorized policemen into Osun to create confusion, mayhem and destabilise the peace and stability of the state and that the Inspector General of Police to order the immediate withdrawal of such policemen.
“I do not believe any serious government or its spokesman will spew such rubbish as a press statement but in case journalists confirm that was released by the governor’s spokesperson my reactions are: That I sympathize with Osun people for allowing comedians to get close to the government house in Osogbo. They are obviously jittery already that our party, the APC, will kick out their incompetent government in 2026.
“Obviously, illiteracy is a disease! The accusations by the governor are ridiculous, baseless and could only come from such unserious quarter.
“If indeed, Jackson Adeleke is concerned with the peace of the state, he should immediately hand over the Police declared criminals that he is harbouring at the country home in Ede. If the intention of Adeleke and his minions is to harass or intimidate me, they are embarking of a failed venture. I have instructed my lawyers to consider possible legal action against the said Mallam Rasheed Olawale for defamation of character.”
