Kwara state PDP on Tuesday clarified and asserted that Safi Abolaji , who was arrested at the venue of the campaign rally held by the ruling APC in Ilorin during the weekend, is not a member of the party.
44-year-old Safi Abolaji popularly called ‘Ojulari’, has been in the spotlight since getting arrested and taken into custody by the police in Kwara state two days ago.
Spokesman for the police in Kwara state, Mr Ajayi Okasanmi, a Superintendent of Police, had in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com on Monday alleged that Safi Abolaji had firearms ; two locally- made short-guns in his possession at the rally in question which was held in Ojuekun Sarumi area of Ilorin on January 29, 2023. The statement had also alleged that Safi is a member of the PDP.
‘The People’s Democratic party (PDP) has become aware of a recent story making the rounds on social media which had to do with an alleged cultist & thug ‘Ojulari’, who was accosted by private citizens and handed over to the police, at the venue of the rally held by Asa/Ilorin West APC House of representatives candidate ,Mal. Muktar Shagaya. The thug was allegedly armed with dangerous weapons and assorted charms.
According to the story, ‘Ojulari’ had confessed to being a PDP member’ the party said in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com on Tuesday by its State Publicity Secretary, Prince Tunji Morounfoye.
The statement added that some media aides of the executive Governor of Kwara state had ‘decided to put a spin on the story’ by claiming in a libelous manner and alleging that the arrested thug and renowned cultist was a ‘Saraki dynasty assassin’ , who wanted to assassinate Mal. Muktar Shagaya , this, the party has described as condemnable.
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‘It is obvious that the nefarious APC media E-rats were trying to replicate their pre- 2019 elections lies and vile repugnant propaganda, from the darkest pit of hell. The pre- 2019 propaganda of trying unsuccessfully to frame the PDP leader, Dr. Abubakar ‘Bukola Saraki (CON) for the tragic Offa robbery where over 30 innocent souls lost their lives (May their gentle souls, continue to rest in peace, amen). The lies and Putrid Propaganda of the APC has been clearly debunked as the court case involving the Offa robbery suspects progresses in court. In addition to the above, the principal investigating officer of the Offa robbery case, Mr. Abba Kyari is currently behind bars for his purported rogue, extra judicial actions and alleged drug trafficking.
We at the PDP have to complement the official Twitter account of Mal. Muktar Shagaya, that refuted this nauseating story. We have no doubt about the candidate’s family pedigree and his good intentions. However, he is with a sinking party, that is destined to lose the forth coming general election. The apparent mass rejection of the APC and their failure nationally already points to this undisputable fact’ the party said.
While asserting that Ojulari is not a card-carrying member of the Kwara state PDP, the party also noted that ‘we neither harbour thugs and cultists nor encourage thuggery in any shape or form’.
The party also disclosed that former Senate President , Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki had since taken necessary steps to caution people seeking to harm his reputation.
‘ We at the PDP put it to the purveyors of such lies and putrid propaganda that Dr. Abubakar ‘Bukola Saraki (CON) has already petitioned the Inspector General of police (IGP) to investigate and prosecute the people who were responsible for this defamatory story and those who have been peddling such on social media without confirmation ’ the statement said.
The party urged Nigerians and Kwarans to vote for PDP candidates ‘from top to bottom’ in the fast approaching general election adding that ‘the 8- year torment of Nigerians must come to an end with the rejection of the APC at the national and state levels’.
In separate statement, the state PDP Campaign Council has asked Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq to explain why he allegedly facilitated Ojulari’s release from prison.
Kwara State PDP Campaign Council in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by its Director of Publicity, Mr. Kayode Ogunlowo, submitted that the Governor owes the people of the state a detailed explanation on why Abolaji was released from the prison, how he was released, the circumstances under which he was released and the purpose his release was designed to achieve.
‘We noticed how it was easy for the hirelings, acolytes, and supporters of Abdulrasaq to rush to the press to claim that the said Abolaji is a member of our party, the PDP. What remains to be explained is the Governor’s role in the recent release of the man in question from the prison and what procedure was followed in achieving his release.
We want it to be known that the PDP is a national party and the oldest in the country today. It has also ruled Kwara State for 16 years during which the state was known as one of the most peaceful, cleanest, and fastest developing states in the country. Also, during our time in office, we enacted a law to eradicate cultism and initiated policies that ensured that arms and ammunition that had been acquired illegally were taken out of circulation and surrendered to the security agencies.
The PDP is not known for encouraging illegality or sponsoring violence against the citizens who form our electorate and who are the population that makes our state a complete entity. Unlike the APC which is beleaguered by internal crisis, with members and chieftains engaging in constant physical and verbal attacks and have continued to heighten tension in the state, the PDP is an organization populated by decent and sophisticated people’ the statement said.
The Campaign Council has also urged the police to do the needful in respect of the matter in question.
The statement urged the police and members of the public to be cautious and vigilant adding that the case at hand should be properly investigated submitting that if Ojulari truly had illegal firearms found in his possession at the rally ,he should be prosecuted- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
