From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Chairman of Osun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sunday Bisi, has vowed to lead a war on the factional members, led by Dotun Babayemi, a former governorship aspirant of the party.
In a video obtained by Daily Sun, yesterday, Bisi who spoke at Awo in Egbedore Local Government Area in the presence of party members, including a member representing Ede/Egbedore/Ejigbo federal constituency, Bamidele Salam, on Sunday, allegedly ordered an attack on Babayemi’s faction anywhere they are cited in the state.
The faction, led by Babayemi recently launched a movement, tagged: ‘Atunto’, saying it is a cooperative society registered by law.
In the video, the party chairman said the faction has been suspended and whoever sees them should unleash terror on them.
Speaking in Yoruba and English languages, Bisi said: “Those who gathered and called themselves ‘Atunto’, you will notice that you have not been hearing them again, you will never hear them again. The disgruntled elements that called themselves ‘Atunto’ collected money from All Progressives Congress (APC), those are agents of APC that took the party to the Supreme Court, they knew that even if the case was delivered in their favour, they wouldn’t be the beneficiary, I said they are not our party members. They have been expelled from the party and they stand expelled from the party.
“I am an Ijesa man and in fact, we Ijesa are known for war. So, if you see these people (Babayemi’s group) who call themselves ‘Atunto’ in this local government, drive them away until they become useless. At this point, I am saying unequivocally and publicly too, that in the Ijesa land, where I come from, nobody dare call himself/herself Atunto. If I see any of such, I will personally lead the war to their camp and beat them thoroughly,” Bisi said.
Meanwhile, Babayemi urged the state police command and the Directorate of State Security Services to invite the party chairman for questioning over the threat.
In a statement by his media office, yesterday, Babayemi who decried Bisi’s unguarded statements, implored security agencies to take necessary action against the PDP chairman for inciting his supporters to unsettle the peace being enjoyed in the state.
“I’m for peace at all times; my supporters across the state are known for their peaceful conduct. The ‘Atunto’ in question is a cooperative society duly registered and protected by the law. It is a society present in all the local governments in the state. On whose authority is Bisi speaking and threatening a lawful body?” he said.
He warned the PDP chairman not to jeopardise the peace currently being enjoyed by the people of the state through his recklessness, insisting he would continue to ensure the peaceful waters of the state were not unsettled through any undue provocation.
Babayemi disclosed a petition has been forwarded to the inspector general of police and other security agencies in Abuja for their interventions to avert the state from being plunged into turmoil.
He urged the people, especially his supporters and admirers across the state not to allow themselves to be provoked into taking laws into their hands.