THE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Osun state, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji popularly called AMBO, has described a call by Governor Ademola Adeleke that Britain should impose economic sanctions and visa ban on the big wigs of the APC in the state over fabricated accusations of promotion of political violence as spurious, unfounded and a joke of the century.
Oyebamiji maintained that if any political party had any reason to make such a request, it would more logically have been his party not the ruling Accord in the state as evident in the alleged unruly activities credited to the incumbent government and its functionaries.
AMBO made the statements while playing a host to the British delegation on Tuesday, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Oyebamiji recalled the alleged gruesome killings of several loyalists of his party prior to the 2022 governorship election and 2023 presidential election in the state, saying the killings in Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Ikirun, Ikire, Ede and several other communities were duly reported to the Nigeria Police Force.
In the words of the APC governorship candidate: “Permit me to also address recent media reports alleging that foreign missions, including the British High Commission, were urged to deny entry visas to members of our party. I regard such reports as entirely unfounded and frankly, the joke of the century.
“If any political party had any reason to make such a request, it would more logically have been our party, the APC.
“You will recall that, prior to the current administration taking office in the state, many of our members were painfully killed during the 2022 election period.
“The incidents in Ilesa, Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Ikirun, Ikire, Ede and several other communities were duly reported to the Nigeria Police Force.
“Although we were the governing party at the time, we neither sought to politicise the incidents nor level baseless accusations.
Instead, we co-operated fully with the security agencies, allowing them to carry out their constitutional responsibilities. Today, several of those cases are before the courts.
“Sadly, in the last two years, a number of our members have also lost their lives under tragic situations.
“In my own Irewole Local Government; Council Area, the Executive Chairman, Hon. Remi Abbas, was killed within the premises of the local government secretariat.
“That unfortunate incident is only one among several others that have been well documented.
“Our approach has remained consistent. We believe in allowing the law enforcement agencies to investigate such matters professionally rather than attempting to mislead the public or the international community with unsubstantiated allegations.
“In this regard, I wish to commend the Inspector-General of Police and the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force for their professionalism and restraint in the face of provocation and misinformation.
“We will continue to support and co-operate with all the security agencies in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities because peace and security remain indispensable to the democratic process”, Oyebamiji added.
AMBO reaffirmed his confidence in the electoral umpire saying “as a political party, we also have confidence in the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a credible, free, fair and peaceful governorship election on the 15th of August, 2026.
“Our only appeal is that the commission should continue to provide a level playing field for all the political parties, thereby allowing the electorate to freely determine the outcome of the election”.
Oyebamiji acknowledged the longstanding bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Britain, adding that “over the years, our bilateral relationship has remained mutually beneficial, fostering co-operation in democracy, governance, trade, education, security and development.
“Without presuming to speak on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, I wish, as a proud Nigerian, to acknowledge your role and respectfully solicit your continued support and co-operation with our administration when, by the grace of God and the will of the people, it is inaugurated in November this year”, Oyebamiji affirmed.
The British delegation led by the Senior Political Advisor, Mr. Wale Adebajo, said the meeting was on peace-building ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.
The meeting has in attendance, Osun APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, Engr. Benjamin Kayode Adereti, APC State Chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, former Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye, APC Governorship Campaign Council Director General, Hon. Oluwole Oke, Chairman, Media Committee, Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Prince Adebayo Adeleke, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Sunday Akere, Osun APC Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi and former Managing Director, Osun Investment Company Limited, OSICOL, Dr. Tunde Faleye among others.