PDP, APC trade blame over rising political violence in Osun
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –
The Osun State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have traded blame over what they described as rising political violence and internal crisis within the opposition party.
The PDP, in a statement signed by its State Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, accused the APC of breeding tension in the state through internal conflicts and violent confrontations among its members ahead of the party’s planned primary election.
Bisi said the situation within the Osun APC had exposed a total breakdown of leadership and internal discipline, warning that the escalating crisis could threaten the peace of the state.
He condemned recent violent incidents allegedly involving APC members as well as a public outburst by a known supporter of one of the party’s aspirants, who labelled a rival aspirant an assassin without any reprimand from the party leadership.
Bisi urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and call the Osun APC to order, saying, “The President must not allow the conduct of his party men in Osun to embarrass his government or destabilize a peaceful state.”
However, in a swift response, the APC, in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, accused the PDP of being unsettled by what it described as its own disintegration at all levels.
Olabisi said the ruling party had no moral standing to accuse anyone of violence, alleging that PDP members were behind several violent incidents in the state.
“It is of great concern that a supposed PDP chairman cannot differentiate between constitutionally allowed constructive criticism and the promotion of crisis by an opposition whose preoccupation is to criticize the ruling party. The people of the state should ignore the hoax rolled out by Mr. Sunday Bisi, as it is far from the peace, tranquility, and rule of law which are the hallmarks of the APC at all levels,” Olabisi said.
