The Minister of State, FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide has denied the alarm raised by the Oyo branch of the All Progressives Congress over her alleged association with thugs in the state, terming the allegation as malicious.
DAILY POST recalls that the APC recently accused the PDP and the Minister of aligning with some thugs in the state to cause violence in Oke-Ado, Ibadan during Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s tour of Ibadan.
However, Akinjide in her reaction sent to DAILY POST, has distanced herself and the PDP from the said crisis, saying the crisis resulted from internal wrangling in the APC. She said those who know her would attest to the fact that she was a ‘’ champion of politics of civility and tolerance,’ ’affirming that her political ideology is characterized by politics of peace, devoid of all forms of rancor.
The statement reads below;
‘’My attention was drawn to a story published by the Punch Newspaper on Thursday November 27, 2014, “APC accuses PDP of Fueling Ibadan Violence’. In the story, Akin Oke, The State chairman of APC Oyo State, accused the PDP of sponsoring the recent violence that broke out in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo State during Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s tour of Ibadan.
‘’Furthermore, Akin Oke, according to the story, challenged me to define my relationship with one of the thugs.
‘’I wish to state categorically that I do not condone thuggery in any form or guise; neither do I associate with thugs. This allegation is not only false, but malicious and targeted at tarnishing my reputation.
‘’Those who know my political pedigree know that I am a champion of politics of civility and tolerance. I strongly believe that politics can, and indeed should, be practiced without resorting to violence, a principle I have adhered to in my political career.
‘’Violence in any part of Oyo State is abhorrent and unacceptable. It is clear that the APC led government in Oyo state, in its usual manner as a master of black propaganda, is blaming the PDP for what is the result of violent conflict among factions within the APC in Oyo State!
‘’As a leader and indigene of Oyo State, I wish to appeal to all residents to eschew violence, embrace peace and resist any attempt by desperate politicians to use them against their community.’’
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