Oyinlola tackles Aregbesola, AC, again

09.03.2008

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun state has accused Rauf Aregbesola of being a very bad loser, making false claims and using the media to blackmail the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

A statement signed by Mr Lasisi Olagunju, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Olagunsoye Oynlola,stressed that Aregbesola and his party were using a section of the media to wage a psychological war on the judiciary, particularly the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

“We have said it before that Aregbesola and his cohorts should leave the judiciary to do its work.

The man should know that the judiciary does not need his empty threats and blackmail to function.

If he claims to be a democrat then he should wait for the outcome of his appeal at the Court of Appeal. He should stop making noise and wild allegations.

"We advise him to start preparing for the 2011 elections if he is still interested in the governorship of Osun state. No amount of noise, blackmail or even voodoo can change the Government of Oyinlola which owes its existence to God's sanction and the peoples’ mandate.

"Aregbesola, as a man who professes Islam, ought to know that God frowns at anyone contending with Him. Every genuine muslim knows that Allah alone enthrones kings and anyone who attempts to force his will on God's plan should learn from what the holy books teach us.

The statement added that, "Aregbesola and the AC were making so much noise on their so called forensic expert's report forgetting that no party can foist its opinion on other parties, particularly in a court matter. The man paid someone to concoct a report and he is making a hell of a noise on the predetermined findings. He has forgotten that even if the man had been accepted as a witness, our first class legal team would have exposed the lies wrapped with velvet in the report.

"We advise him to get serious with his case or withdraw his petition if he knows he has reached a dead end. He cannot continue to delude himself and making it seem that the world would end unless the everybody, including the judiciary does his bidding. The nation operates under the rule of law and so his "rule by backmail" can never work.

No political party should think it has a monopoly of anything including wisdom. We understand perfectly what they are up to. They should know that the judiciary cannot be intimidated so all their veiled threats to also descend on the Court of Appeal if its verdicts are at variance with the expectations of the AC will not work. As a law abiding political party, we reaffirm our faith in the judicial process and have been taking all rulings that come our way in that light. We have gone on appeal where necessary without attacking the integrity of the judiciary. We expect all others who profess democratic tenets to also do same.

“We also call on law enforcement agencies to be at alert as information at our disposal points at plans by the AC to foment trouble in Osun state because its house of cards has crumbled,” the PDP said.

Olagunju added that the AC people are so confused and uncoordinated to the extent that Jumoke Ogunkeyede would deny ever sending any ballot paper abroad for analysis while Lai Mohammed would admit that they "took samples of ballot papers abroad for analysis."

“AC spokesman, Mr Lai Mohammed, in his statement said, “for the avoidance of doubt, the tribunal granted us leave to inspect, investigate and analyse the ballot papers in the office of INEC.

In line with common practice, however, we took samples which were then analysed abroad due to the absence of such analytical facilities here… ”

“In the light of Lai Mohammed’s statement quoted above, we want the AC and Aregbesola to explain what they meant by “samples” if they are now saying no ballot paper was taken abroad for analysis,”, Olagunju said.

On the ruling, the PDP asked the AC why it did not file Adrian Forty’s affidavit with the petition as prescribed by law, while their lawyer claimed on oath that he “was physically present” during the inspection when he was not and why Aregbesola had to disobey the court which specifically said the inspection/analysis should be done in the premises of INEC in Osogbo with agents of other parties in attendance."