Osun Poll: We’re Ready For The Military, Says Gov’s Aide

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Security consultant to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Dipo Okeyomi, recently spoke with SOLA SANUSI on the readiness of the state government for the August 9 governorship election. The present minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, is from Osun State, and taking a clue from the level of security employed by the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Ekiti State election, what do you think this portends for Osun State?
We are less bothered by the amount of security operatives sent to Ekiti State. Security operatives are out to protect the citizenry; so we believe they are coming to protect us. Adesiyan is a civilian and not a security operative. We learnt he was in Ekiti with the Minister of State for Defense; no problem; we are waiting for them here. Security operatives are not our enemies; they are our friends. We know the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s antics; they want to scare the people so that they will not come out to vote but the people of Osun State are ready for them.
But there are also allegations that the governor is training some people on security that would eventually be in fake police uniform. As the consultant to the state government on security, what have you to say on this?
That is a blatant lie. How can Governor Aregbesola be training boys to be police officers? PDP members are liars and propagandists. Go on the streets of Osun and ask the people; they will tell you better. They were there in the state before Aregbesola came into power. The masses are our witnesses.
How much can the people of Osun entrust their lives to the government of the day during this forthcoming election?
Aregbesola is working day and night to ensure that the lives of the people are secured. Adequate security is on ground; the people have being enjoined to come out and vote. The police and whoever is coming are being paid with tax payers’ money; so they are coming to do their primary assignment which is to protect lives and properties.
Is it that you are jittery already or what?
No, we are not. The works of Aregbesola are there to speak for him. The governor has done so much in the areas of health, education, roads, provision of social amenities and so on. All we are saying is that they should deploy these security operatives to proper use. The police are for civil unrest and the military are to protect our territories. Take them to Sambisa forest to bring back our girls.
They are not meant to protect ballot boxes; that is the duty of the police and we have able police officers I believe. We are not afraid of them we are only saying they should not turn the peaceful state of Osun into a mess. They are the ones jittery; otherwise, Omisore would not have been going about with a man in hood as a security man or bodyguard as he may call it. Who knows if the security guard is a Boko Haram? In Ekiti State, some chieftains of the party were arrested prior the election day. That gimmick cannot work in Osun State; they cannot arrest our chieftains. We are prepared for them.
culled from Oranmiyan