…says Report linking him with ballot box snatching wicked, figment of writer’s imagination
…that sources quoted by Sahara Reporters fake, fabricated
A former Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rt. Hon Victor Adekanye Olabimtan has described a report published by a United States based Online News Medium, linking him with the electoral crises that engulfed the ancient town of Oba-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state during the March 23rd 2019 House of Assembly Election as completely fallacious, reckless, wild and a calculated attempt from some cowards and fifth columnists to tarnish his hard-earned name and integrity for political exigency.
He said contrary to the claim by the report that he led armed soldiers and policemen to Oba-Akoko to snatch ballot boxes leading to the killings of two young persons; he was actually ambushed by the protesting youths of the town while on his way to Akure after casting his vote in his Supare-Akoko country home on the Election Day.
Speaking while addressing a press conference on Monday in Akure, the state capital, Olabimtan, a former governorship aspirant who once represented Ondo, Edo and Ekiti States in Federal Character Commission said investigations have revealed that all the “impeccable sources” quoted by Sahara Reporters in the report are fake, fictitious and fabricated, challenging the news medium to come up with evidence known to tenets of universal empiricism to prove that he participated in the electioneering exercise in Oba-Akoko.
The full text of the press statements is reproduced below:
“Gentlemen of the press, you are invited here to know the truth about what actually happened in Oba Akoko on the 9th of March after the State Assembly election.
“On Monday, 25th of March, 2019, Sahara Reporters published a malicious, false and unverified story against my person. I believe the fabricated news was sponsored to malign my name and tag me what doesn’t concern me. This press conference is necessary to clear my name and put the record straight.
“I was in my house in Supare Akoko relaxing after voting in my unit on the 9th of March, 2019. Sometime between 1 and 2pm, I got a call from one Dapo Faseesin that there was crisis in Ose, a suburb of Oba. That election has been concluded in Ose but that INEC officials, himself and ballot boxes are in danger.
“He said he has tried the Governor’s phone number but could not get through. That I should help him raise alarm so that security can be provided for them in Ose. I inquired to know the cause of the problems. He told me that they were been attacked because they disobeyed the order of Oloba by voting their conscience instead of voting for one particular candidate as ordered. He went further to explain that his house, business and properties were being attacked and destroyed in Oba Akoko because he refused to obey the marching order.
“I immediately put a call through to the Governor to update him. Surprisingly the Governor was already aware of what was going on in Oba. He expressed his surprise and assured me that security personnel will be sent to Oba to secure lives, property and votes. He told me that Alhaji Dojumo, the Senior Special Assistant on Security will mobilize security operatives to secure Oba and Ose.
“I told the Governor that it is likely I meet Dojumo and his team on the way, as I was already leaving Supare for Akure to resume my duty at INEC office, as the State Agent for my party. So, I was leaving for Akure in the company of my driver and police orderly. We were just three (3) in the vehicle, contrary to the multitudes reported by Sahara Reporters.
“My journey to Akure was hitch free until I arrived Oba Akoko. We ran into several road blocks. I was harassed and attacked because according to them I was going to Ose to assist Faseesin and INEC officials to bring the ballot boxes to collation centre. I made spirited effort to explain to them that I was only going back to Akure. In response, they shot and attacked my vehicle with anything they could lay their hands on. Respite came my way when a police vehicle on random patrol arrived the scene. My driver managed to escape with the vehicle while the police whisked me away in their vehicle to safety.
“Dojumo and his team were able to assist and secure INEC officials, ballot boxes and all those that were under threat. Unfortunately, immeasurable havoc has been committed to properties of Faseesin and other APC sympathizers before security could arrive Oba Akoko. Even the police station was not spared.
“After every carnage, the perpetrators always look for whom to blame for their actions. As expected they searched for whom to blame and they found a catching name in Rt. Hon. Victor Adekanye Olabimtan. I have been participating in active politics for more than 40 years. I did not snatch ballot boxes when I was younger, I did not even snatch boxes when I contested election. What will then make me snatch ballot box at over 60 years old?
“This is a calculated effort to spoil my name but they have failed. All faceless people that purportedly granted interview were fake. Their sponsors cannot come out because they know that there is no iota of truth in what they are peddling.
“I challenge anyone with genuine evidence that I participated in the electioneering exercise of Oba and Ose to come up with such evidence. They are just calling dog a bad name in order to hang it but my God is greater than them.”
