PRESS STATEMENT.
(JUNE 7TH, 2023).

Osun APC Expresses Resentment On Member's Remand Over Egbedun's Case

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the latest onslaught of Governor Ademola Adeleke-led administration on the opposition members of the party in the state with the unsuspecting use of the judiciary.

The opposition party in the state also enjoined the judiciary at all levels of its existence in the state to be circumspect on political matters in order for the public not to lose the confidence of the court, since its existence has no expiry date.

It would be recalled that a member of the APC social media team, Ajibola Oluwasegun Fawale was remanded at Ilesa Correctional Centre on Tuesday, on the order of the presiding Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara for criticizing the Right Honourable Adewale Egbedun in a story that was shared online recently, till June 9, 2023 for delivery of ruling on applications for bail.

According to the Osun State Acting Chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party's Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, in Osogbo today, it was a pity that the newly-sworn-in Speaker of the state House of Assembly has chosen to start his political journey on a wrong footing with the unsavoury legal development against the opposition.

Lawal pointedly told Egbedun that though there is nothing wrong in anyone seeking a redress in the court of law over a knotty issue but there is a diplomatic way it could be effected by a public officer without necessarily ruffling the feather.

He told Egbedun that his approach to the criticism of the opposition is a pointer to the fact that he is a baby politician who needs to learn the rope as he will still find more battles to contend with during his leadership of the House of Assembly.

Lawal observed that Egbedun needs to enrol for pupillage in the political school of the immediate-past Speaker of the House, Right-Honourable Timothy Owoeye, on the need to develop a thick skin to allegations whether real or imaginary if he targets tangible achievement in the office.

In the words of the state acting chairman of the party: "I am yet to recall any occasion that Owoeye had called out or sued any member of the PDP when they were in the opposition for criticizing him whether constructively or otherwise.

"How about the immediate-past Governor Gboyega Oyetola who the PDP gladiators and their political footsoldiers would not cease calling names or criticized unjustifiably on daily basis. Has he ever gone to court once?

"Egbedun should know that whatever is the outcome of his current legal battle with the opposition, there is no way that he can win the war.

"It should dawn on the Speaker that the Egbedun of yesterday is not the Egbedun of today which makes any of his actions and inactions matters of public interest as a public officer.

"My golden piece of advice for the judiciary is to thread softly on this political matter and handle same with professional diligence and unbiasedness in order not to be seen as a willing tool in the hand of the government of the day", Lawal cautioned.

e-SIGNED:

Sooko TAJUDEEN LAWAL,

Acting Chairman,

Osun State APC.