Tunde Adeleke, Osogbo
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state government have disagreed over the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest of Shakiru Babatunde, a media aide to Governor Ademola Adeleke, in connection with an alleged self-kidnapping incident.
While the APC accused the state government of attempting to manipulate the incident to heat up the polity and discredit the Federal Government, the government denied the allegation, saying the police were investigating the matter without interference.
It would be recalled that Babatunde was arrested by police operatives after allegedly staging his own abduction.
The APC in a statement issued on Wednesday through its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, alleged that some state government officials had earlier announced the aide’s purported abduction on social media and blamed the opposition party for the incident.
Olabisi held that Babatunde had confessed to the alleged offence while in police custody, alleging that some government officials were attempting to frustrate a proper investigation into the matter.
The APC said, “According to sources, Babatunde’s arrest had been announced by other officials of the state government through their individual social media handles, demonising and shifting the blame on the opposition APC as being responsible for the imaginary and false kidnap.”
The opposition party also alleged that the incident was aimed at portraying the APC in a negative light and creating public sentiment against the Federal Government.
It urged the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim D. Zungura, to ensure a thorough investigation and ensure that anyone found culpable was made to face the law.
“We are appealing to the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim D. Zungura, to pay particular attention to this case to serve as a deterrent to future criminal acts,” Olabisi said.
However, the state government dismissed the allegations, maintaining that it was the government that initially reported the purported abduction to the police and had not interfered with the investigation.
In a statement signed by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the government said it was aware of the reported case involving the media aide and had left the matter in the hands of the police.
He said, “We categorically denied the fake news that there were attempts by the state officials to bribe the police to sweep the matter under the carpet. Such reports are unfounded and baseless conjectures.
“Nobody in the government is attempting to bribe the police and the police have not received any kobo from state officials as libelously asserted in a publication.
“The police are currently investigating the matter while the state government is also waiting for the outcome of the investigation for further action.
“We therefore call on members of the public to ignore any misinformation designed to tarnish the image of state officials or the police as relevant police units are currently investigating the entire episode.
“Governor Adeleke and top state officials are committed to transparency and law enforcement. No state official would therefore be involved in preventing law enforcement agencies from exercising their mandate.”
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