Don’t be intimidated by heavy security presence during poll – Aregbesola

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday charged the people of the state not to be intimidated by the proposed deployment of soldiers and military police to the state during the August 9 governorship election.
This was even as prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party and thousands of their supporters decamped to the All Progressives Congress in Osun State.
The governor, at a mega rally in Ilesa Federal Constituency, said the August 9 election is one that will shape the next 20 years of the state’s destiny.
He described the 15 years of the PDP at the centre of governance ‎as a clueless leadership that offers the people of Nigeria nothing.
Aregbesola urged the people not to fear the presence of soldiers and police as they are constitutionally charged to protect the people.
In his words: “All security agents according to the constitution of Nigeria have the responsibility to protect the people.
“Therefore, police or soldiers cannot point his gun to any Nigerian who has committed no crime.
“Their presence on the day of election, it is our belief, is meant to provide security for the people while exercising their civic responsibility.
“Their guns and their uniforms are bought with the people’s money and not that of PDP‎.
“I charge you to go out enmasse to vote for our party without fear of intimidation, let or hindrance.”
Speaking earlier, the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, pointed out that the APC government has brought back the glorious era of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in the South West.
Amosun described as ridiculous the opposition’s reduction of governance to a mere stomach infrastructure, warning the people of the state not to be deceived by this cash and carry politics.
He said that APC in Osun State under Aregbesola has brought growth, progress and economic development unrivalled by any government in the history of the state.
According to him: “What our party has been offering the people of the South West is a purposeful leadership.
“We have been offering our people responsible and responsive governance.
“South-West is witnessing the era of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo where government means quality service, qualitative welfare and economic prosperity.
“Therefore, for anybody to reduce governance to stomach infrastructure in the 21st century amounts to an insult to the sensibility of our people.
“With the performance of Aregbesola, I am left with no doubt that come August 9, Aregbesola will be announced winner.”
The APC chairman in Osun State, Elder Biyi Adelowo, charged people to make sure that they collect their ‎Permanent Voter Cards at the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission to enable them vote during the forthcoming election.
He used the opportunity to announce the decampment of some prominent PDP members in the state to the APC.
Those who decamped included Oluomo Yinka Adeojo, a former PDP Secretary General; and Alhaji Rasaq Oyelami, a former Personal Assistant to former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Others are Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye, a former chairman of Osogbo Local Government Area; Alhaji Akinloye, a former Assistant Secretary General of the PDP; Moyinoluwalogo Ogunwale, a former Odo-otin Local Government Area chairman; and Kemi Adejare.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors after receiving the APC flag, Oyelami described the PDP as a party that has nothing to offer the people of Osun State.
He described the three and half years of Aregbesola in office as progressive, enterprising and growth-oriented‎, advising the people not to vote wrongly to party of Buccaneers.
He said: “PDP is not a good party.
“It is a party that believes in the use of force.
“For seven and a half years in power, PDP did nothing.
“It is a party that can offer our people nothing.
“We have seen the difference in just three and a half years of APC government in Osun.
“PDP is behind the slash of Osun allocation because they do not want Aregbesola to have the resources to develop the state.
“Our people should not vote for the party that is anti-development.”