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- Says attack unwarranted, demands apology
From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
A group, Ogun West Coalition for Good Governance (OWECOGG), has faulted the claims by member of House of Representatives representing Ota Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Tunji Akinosi, over his reasons for allegedly assaulting a police security detail of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, during the grand finale of Odun Omo Iganmode Festival held recently in Ota.
Akinosi was reported to have pushed away the security detail of Senator Adeola at the event, a situation which almost led to fracas.
Defending his action, however, the lawmaker said he pushed the police orderly of the senator because he was disrespectful to the Ogun State deputy governor, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele at the event.
But OWECOGG in a statement signed by its Convener, Adeosun Benjamin otherwise known as Benji, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Thursday, faulted Akinosi’s claim, describing it as a flimsy excuse to justify his “dishonourable act”.
He said that the House of Reps member’s concocted lie was just an after thought to change the narrative of what actually transpired in order to mislead the general public.
According to the statement, Akinosi deliberately attacked the security detail attached to Senator Adeola to create a false impression that Awori people are hostile to the senator representing Ogun West at the National Assembly.
He said that a video recording of the incident revealed that the deputy governor was not on the spot, wondering why Akinosi would defend his crude actions by reeling out blatant lies to the public.
Benjamin who disclosed that he was among the people at the scene, alleged that the House of Reps member was acting out a script already planned to cause ruckus at the venue of the event to douse the rousing welcome that would greet the arrival of Senator Adeola.
He pointed out that the lawmaker is known for his disposition to violent behaviour, recalling how he hit a hawker with his vehicle and even threatened to beat up a woman who challenged his actions.
He further disclosed that the assault on the security officer by Akinosi is well recorded and documented, challenging to produce his own proof and evidence of the disrespect on the deputy governor by the security detail.
While expressing his disappointment at what he described as “unruly conduct” of the former Commissioner for Forestry in Ogun State, the Convener of OWECOGG said that the physical assault on the senior police detail clearly showed harboured resentment he has for Adeola.
He stated further that “the group not only condemns Akinosi’s unwarranted attack on the police officer, which is viewed as an attack on Senator Adeola, but demands an apology from the lawmaker”.
“Rather for the House of Reps member to feed the people with lies, he should be honourable enough to accept his impulsive, albeit repulsive actions during the grand finale of Odun Omo Iganmode Festival,” Benjamin submitted in the statement.
