By Tunde Odesola, Osogbo

An explosive allegedly planted under the podium, which Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, was to use for a campaign rally in Okuku, was discovered by the police on Thursday before it could explode.

The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, Mr Solomon Olusegun, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday, confirmed the incident. He described the explosive as a hand grenade.

But the Director, Action Congress of Nigeria, Osun State Chapter, Mr. Sunday Akere, in a statement on Thursday, said the discovery of the alleged explosive highlighted the desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party to cause chaos in the state.

“Even if it is hand grenade, why should it be planted under the podium the governor was to use for campaign?” Akere queried while condemning the incident.

Okuku is the hometown of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who is vying for the Osun-Central Senatorial District on the platform of the PDP.

A source at the Bomb Disposal Unit, Osun Police Command, disclosed to our correspondent on condition of anonymity that the explosive was uncovered during a round of routine check on the podium.

“We had combed the arena four times. The governor was still being expected. We embarked on another round of routine check only for our equipment to buzz repeatedly,” the police source said.

Akere, who said election was not a do-or-die affair, added that the PDP would stop at nothing to achieve its dastard aim of throwing Osun into chaos.

We warn, however, that nothing untoward must happen to Governor Aregbesola.”

“We commend the Anti-Bomb Disposal Unit for been diligent in their work and preventing loss of lives and injuries to many but called on the other arms of the security apparatus to put a close watch on both the deposed Governor Oyinlola and the PDP Senatorial candidate in Osun-East Senatorial District, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, so as to ensure a crisis free election on Saturday.”

Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to Oyinlola, Mr Lasisi Olagunju, said the ACN was making wild allegations.

A statement by Olagunju reads in part, “The ACN should stop making wild claims. It is the duty of the police to confirm if there was anything strange at the venue. The ACN are not qualified to announce a discovery of explosives.

“That venue is an open space along an interstate road to Kwara State. The ACN people have been around that venue since Wednesday when their man was originally billed to campaign there.”