Gov Saraki Replies Olawepo

01.03.2008

The Kwara State government has reacted to media reports during the week, that the governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in Kwara State, Gbenga Olawepo, alleged a threat to his life and alleged that the state government sponsored thugs to invade the venue of the state election petition tribunal.

A press release signed by Masu’ud Adebimpe, Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, and made available to Saturday Tribune, yesterday, said that the Kwara State government did not wish to take issue with Olawepo, but added that the threat was a “propaganda of an unknown opposition.”

On the allegation of threat to Olawepo’s life, the release also said: “The government views this as a grievous allegation coming from an individual who claimed he had not visited the state in the last six months.”

Governor Bukola Saraki, the release noted, had called on all the State Security operatives to, as a matter of urgency, investigate the alleged death threat with a view to bringing to book and making the culprit face the wrath of law.

On the alleged invasion of the Election Tribunal, the release said those who were alleged to have been abducted were actually suspects who had been declared wanted by the Kwara Police Command over the alleged murder of one Suraju Akaje.

“The suspects were at the Tribunal not as witnesses to any political party but as spectators.

They were identified by a section of the crowd gathered to observe the proceedings at the tribunal on that day and raised alarm.

“The Police were attracted to the scene and promptly whisked away the suspects to the state police command, where they were interrogated,” the release said.