*berates State Police Command
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Oyo State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Tuesday alerted that Governor Seyi Makinde was behind the last minute cancellation of its mega rally by State Police Command.
Raising the alarm at a press conference, the Oyo State governorship candidate of the party, Barrister Michael Lana said the latest action of the State Police Command with the last minute cancellation of the party’s planned mega rally in Ibadan was uncalled for.
Barrister Lana stressed that SDP leaders and members were
surprised at the police action on the rally already slated to hold on Tuesday at Mapo Hall as the State Police Command advised the party to shift the rally till Wednesday.
“We are surprised at the attitude of the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, who has turned himself to a personal police of the governor, rather than being the security chief of the state.At the beginning of the campaign season, the police directed all political parties to inform it of any political campaign or function, thus, on January 30, we duly informed the commissioner of police of our mega rally, scheduled to hold today at Mapo Hall”, he said
Barrister Lana added, ” our letter was duly acknowledged which was an indication that no other political party applied to use the venue or hold rally in the local government (Ibadan South-East).
“After spending lots of resources for preparation, the police called around 7am today and said the rally should be cancelled because the governor wants to hold a rally at the same venue”.
Stressing that, “the plan is to cause a clash between the two parties but being a peaceful party, we have decided to bear the losses to avert bloodshed at Mapo Hall”, the SDP governorship candidate said the Oyo State Commissioner of Police would be reported to relevant authorities, and that the Police Commissioner and the governor would be held responsible if anything happened to any of the party members.
The SDP governorship candidate stressed, ” this is not the first time that Gov Makinde would try to undermine SDP because of the fear that we are the only party that can uproot him from the government house.
“Two or three days ago, he gathered some people to tell the people that we have stepped down for him. Knowing that this falsehood would be cleared at the rally, the governor quickly called the state Commissioner of Police to cancel our rally.It is obvious that the Commissioner was only informed of Makinde rally today.”
Barrister Lana stressed, ” this is gross abuse of power and breach of office on the part of the Commissioner of Police. All parties and candidates are equal. Had the commissioner been professional in his job, he would know that we have the power to resist the cancellation, especially as it was done in the last minute. It is extremely injurious to us as our people had left far places as early as 5.30am in chartered vehicle to travel to Ibadan.”
SDP Senatorial candidate in Oyo North, Honourable Mulikat Adeola, while speaking, said it was unfortunate that the rally was put off in the last minute, adding that the party members should troop out to Mapo Hall on Wednesday for the rally.
