•‘Aregbesola’s victory divine’
The lawmaker representing of Ife Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Rotimi Makinde, has said he did not vote on Saturday.
Addressing reporters yesterday in Lagos, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain said: “I did not vote in that landmark re-election of the people’s Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, last Saturday.”
He said Aregbesola’s re-election was made possible by God and the support of the “appreciative” people of Osun, adding that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tried its best to subvert the electorate’s wish.
Explaining why he did not vote, Makinde said at about 1:15am last Saturday, his Ife home was invaded by armed men allegedly working for his major political rival in Ife.
He said: “In the wee hours of last Saturday, my house was bombarded with four vehicles loaded with armed military men. They were shooting sporadically as if I was the only one in Ile-Ife.
I did not vote in the election, as I had to run for cover. It pains me that some reactionary elements prevented me from voting for a man of history (Aregbesola). I cried and cried in hiding.
“It was a re-enactment of what I suffered in 2006, when I was kidnapped in my father’s house a day before the election. This time, Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s house was attacked too. I feel sad and I am yet to overcome the shock of the traumatic experience.”
If a member of the House of Representatives with the mandate of the people could not step out of his home, you can imagine how many people in the area could not step out to vote. It is painful, but I thank God for showing Himself.”
Makinde, who is the deputy chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, said he felt compelled to alert the public that his life was in danger.
“My life is in danger and Nigerians must know. Most importantly, the ill-motivated militarisation of my state before and during the poll calls for serious concerns by genuine lovers of this country. The PDP must not be allowed to carry on like this. It is dangerous,” he added.
Reacting to the fact that the PDP’s candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, had more votes in Ife than Aregbesola, Makinde said: “The votes churned out by the PDP do not represent the true wishes of Ife people, who want continuity. It is a charade because an average Ife person knows what Omisore represents.”
The lawmaker said by that election, Omisore has been retired from politics, adding: “Omisore’s defeat will signal the end of violence and tyranny in Ile Ife.”
Noting that it was uncomplimentary of the military to “allow itself to be used by politicians to thwart the aspiration of the people it ought to protect”, he urged the police to live up to their responsibilities and protect the people.
Makinde said: “As I speak to you, some APC members are still being targeted by these elements. The earlier the police defend them, the better for our people.”
