Press Release: WHY DECLARE AREGBESOLA WANTED? WHY SEAL UP HIS CAMPAIGN OFFICE? 18th April 2007

The gubernatorial election was held in Oshun State on Saturday 14th April 2007 amidst reports and allegations of rigging, violence and intimidation of the opposition. Prior to the election, observers had found the Action Congress candidate, Engr. Rauf Aregbesola’s rating highest in the state. It was therefore natural that the people would react spontaneously to the declaration of the incumbent as winner of that election. Governor Oyinlola thereafter instructed the police to arrest Aregbesola or declare him wanted. Aregbesola’s campaign office has been cordoned off and all the staff arrested.

While the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) denounces violence, we hold the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Governor Oyinlola responsible for the people’s reaction. There has been an attempt to thwart the General Will, the will of the people. Aregbesola’s statement in the newspapers of Tuesday 17th April 2007 showed clearly that he knows nothing about the protests.

Governor Oyinlola’s directive to the police instructing them to arrest Aregbesola or to declare him wanted in the alternative is therefore misplaced, misinformed and misleading. It is a miscarriage of justice, an excessive use of Gestapo power. It exposes Oyinlola as a totalitarian dictator, a vindictive leader of men and an unrelenting enemy of democracy. We are constrained to ask: When did contesting against a governor become a crime? Oyinlola has been flexing his muscles all over Oshun State in a show of executive recklessness. Oshun governor is a non-democrat, a square peg in a round hole: a politician in military gab. He is power-drunk.

MURIC condemns the raid on Aregbesola’s campaign office. We demand the immediate withdrawal of soldiers and policemen from the premises. All the staff in detention must be charged to court within 48 hours as stipulated in Nigeria’s law books. The siege on Aregbesola must be lifted.

MURIC denounces the role played by the Oshun State police command in this ugly scenario. It has failed to create a level playing ground for all parties. We therefore demand the re-deployment of the Police Commissioner in the State. We appeal to the citizens to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign. The Action Congress in Oshun State is advised to take the outcome of the election to the election tribunal for adjudication.

Dr. Is-haq Akintola                                                 Mr. Amodu Alabi
DIRECTOR                                           ASST. SECRETARY GENERAL