Omisore Accuses Aregbesola Of Acquiring 20 Armoured Tanks

The flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore has accused the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, of acquiring 20 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to intimidate the electorate and cause violence during the election. A press statement issued on behalf of Omisore by his director of media and strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, and made available to newsmen in Osogbo claimed that the APCs are currently parked at the Government House in Osogbo. Omisore said, “Aregbesola had a premeditated strategy to release these APCs for some questionable use during this coming election. If not, why did he fail to release these armoured tanks to the police authorities if they were actually purchased for the security of the state and the interest of the masses he claimed to be protecting?” The statement reads in part, “Aregbesola has been preaching violence, even before the commencement of his campaign and this is evident in his repeated calls on the innocent citizens of Osun to arm themselves with charms and other traditional weapons when going to perform their civic responsibilities during the governorship election”. “It is imperative on the part of the appropriate authorities to investigate this development because credible information at our disposal lend credence to the fact that what the APC candidate really plans to do is to deploy these armoured tanks for tactical use during the election and his calls for charms’ use were just a diversionary approach to achieve his inimical aims”. The PDP candidate called on the federal government to institute a probe into the cost of the 20 armoured tanks and the purpose for which they were purchased. Reacting, the director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon said that Omisore was crying wolf where there was none, adding that the PDP flag bearer was only afraid of his past.