APC, PDP trade words over outburst of Osun speaker against traditional ruler

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are engaged in war of words over the outburst of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, against the traditional ruler of his hometown, Oba Isaac Oyewale, the Alasi of Asi.

The APC described the action of the speaker as an exhibition of an uncultured attitude, while the PDP said the opposition party was being hypocritical.

The APC’s director of media and information, Kola Olabisi, in a statement yesterday, said the viral video of the speaker attacking, threatening, cursing and harassing the 72-year-old monarch of his town in a manner suggestive of political persecution and oppression, was condemnable.

The APC called for the arrest and investigation of the speaker, saying, “If the Speaker could treat his traditional ruler in such an obnoxious manner, one could imagine what the members of the Assembly where he has the constitutional power to do and undo are passing through, which could not be divulged to the public.

“With this show of shame of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, he has shown that he is a monumental minus to the visibly wobbling administration of Governor Adeleke and an unworthy ambassador of the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria.

“We are passionately appealing to the Inspector-General of Police to investigate, arrest and prosecute the Speaker on the attack and threat to the life of Oba Olasunkanmi since life does not have a duplicate once it is taken,” APC said.

The PDP’s director of media in the state, Oladele Bamiji, described the APC’s statement as not only hypocritical but also a calculated attempt to weaponize a sensitive matter for cheap political capital.

He said: “We condemn such meddling and urge the APC to refrain from fanning the embers of discord in a matter that is already receiving the attention of relevant authorities.

“Contrary to the sensational narrative being peddled by the opposition, the PDP is fully aware that the matter arose from a string of threats to the life of the Speaker, which preceded the unfortunate outburst captured in the now-viral video. These threats, which have since been formally reported, are under active investigation by the Nigeria Police.

“It is, therefore, reckless and dangerous for the APC to jump to conclusions and attempt to incite the public against the Speaker, all in a bid to stay politically relevant. We caution that such actions border on incitement and must not be taken lightly,” PDP said.