SAYS FG - NO GOING BACK ON SECURITY IN OSUN

President Warns Miscreants  Against Violence

Osun State yesterday stood still as President Goodluck Jonathan stormed the state to campaign for Senator Iyiola Omisore, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the August 9 governorship election.

He replied the opposition party saying nothing would stop the Federal government from deploying adequate security to Osun during the election to secure the lives of citizens.

The President who had earlier paid a courtesy visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, on arrival urged the people to vote for the PDP during the election to make it easier for federal authorities to help in the development of the state.

He lauded the achievements of Omisore saying he has the capacity, wisdom and experience to provide good governance in the state.

     He said that notwithstanding the position of the opposition on security during the poll nothing would prevent his administration from taking preventive measures against violence due to rising political tension in the state.

    “We will go ahead to perform our duty by ensuring that the Federal Government deploys the needed security to Osun State massively to ensure safety of lives and property as people of the state are set to elect their new governor on August 9.

    The President, who addressed a rally that peaked Omisore’s political campaign at the Osogbo Township Stadium, said the Federal Government was taking the security measure considering the fact that about 10 members of the National Youths Corps Service were killed in recent violence recently in the country.

Jonathan said the clamour for security not to be deployed for the election was not justifiable considering the insecurity implication and the serious challenge facing the country presently.

    He then warned miscreants to stay away from the state before, during and after the election or face the full wrath of the law if they attempt to foment trouble during the Osun election.

     Addressing the mammoth crowd at the rally that witnessed a large turnout, the President asked, “Do you agree that we should not deploy security for the election? In response, the excited crowd chorused “no, no, no.”

    The President vowed that security operatives would deal with who ever tries to cause problem during the election. He said such troublemakers would be dealt with according to the law.

    His words: “We will develop Osun State with Omisore. We need your cooperation to be able to do this. Vote for Omisore and leave the rest for us.”

    Describing the state as being great and ripe to be governed again by the PDP, Jonathan said:

“Osun is for Omisore, Jonathan and the PDP.”

  He noted that the PDP is the only democratic party in the country that shows respect to internal democracy; even as he stressed that the opposition lack the capacity to beat the PDP in any free and credible election.

    He observed that a large crowd at the rally was a testimony that the PDP was ready to win the August poll and enjoined party supporters to work hard in order to ensure victory for Omisore and the PDP.

   In his brief speech, Omisore asked the crowd to show their cads, which they did, adding that they should use the voting material to defeat the opposition to prove that the party is very popular in the state.

   “Your voters card,’ he said, “is your power; ensure that you keep it well and use it to tell our opponents that we are capable to defeat them during the election.”

Dignitaries present at the rally included  Vice President Namadi Sambo, PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, chairman of Board of Trustee of the party; Chief Tony Anenih, PDP National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, Ekiti State Governor-elect  Ayodele Fayose, chief Ebenezer Babatope and Professor Tunde Adeniran.

Other PDP leaders at the event are the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisah Metuh, Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Onbanikoro, his counterpart in the Ministry of

Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, former Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Senator Kofo Bucknor Akerele, Chief Jimi Agbaje, former Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Deputy National Chairman of the party in South West, Ishola

Filani, Chief Bode George, Chief Femi Fanikayode, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, former Speaker of House of Reps, Dimeji Bankole, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Dr Yemi Farounbi, Chief Lai Ogunrinade, Professor Tunde Adeniran,S enator Bode Olajumoke and Prince Buruji Kashamu.