More facts have emerged on how men of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Owena Barracks in Akure, the Ondo State capital arrested 10 political thugs of the Governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy [AD], Chief Olusola Oke with a bus loaded with ammunitions along Okitipupa Ore axis in Ondo State.
It was on Friday that rumour broke out that Oke was arrested along with his boys but military sources confirmed to DAILY POST that only his political boys were apprehended at the military checkpoint.
According to a military source, who does not want his name mentioned due to the sensitive nature of the matter, ” the bandits were arrested with guns, cutlasses, uniforms, live cartridges, an AD Toyota bus, press Identification cards among others.
It was learnt that the suspects left Oke’s house at Ijapo in Akure on Friday morning and they were heading to Ilaje, where Oke is expected to hold a rally.
It was also gathered that the suspects were picked when the soldiers, who checked their vehicles discovered the ammunitions.
Another Military source said, “Immediately we stopped the vehicle, they called themselves pressmen but we were curious that how can pressmen be driving a customized AD vehicle.
“It was then we asked them to allow us to search the vehicle and we discovered all these ammunitions loaded in the bus. They were immediately arrested and we transferred them to our headquarters in Akure.
But, Oke through his media aide, Mr Kolawole Olabisi, said he was not arrested at any time by either the military of any other law enforcement agent
He accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being the sponsor of the rumour, adding however that the campaign of calumny peddled against him only made him more popular.
He stated further that, “as I talk to you now, Chief Olusola Oke is in Mahin in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State canvassing for the support of the people of the area in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.”
According to him, both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP in the state are intimidated by the rising popularity of Oke, hence their resolve to blackmail and other mischievous acts aimed at soiling his reputation.
“Oke is a responsible citizen of Nigeria and he has been moving round the state since he launched his campaign. He left Akure this morning for Ilaje Local Government and he had met with different people there.”
“By the way, why will oke be arrested when he did not commit any offence? He did not carry arms, neither did he carry ammunition. The rumour was the handiwork of his detractors whose aim was to soil the good reputation he has built over the years,” he added.
He said “the PDP resolved to peddle the rumour of Oke’s arrest and use the social media to circulate the rumour as a result of the court of the indefinite adjournment given by the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The PDP led by Governor Olusegun Mimiko is afraid of Olusola Oke, especially with the court decision which did not favour them, hence the baseless rumour.”
He noted that the rumour was baseless and has no iota of truth, enjoining members of the public, especially residents of the state to discountenance it in its entirety.
“Oke is a free Nigerian and he will return to AKure today to meet with his co-ordinators. This is to tell you that he was not arrested by any agency of government,” he stated.
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