Osoba Arrested,Released On Bail
- Look Beyond Osoba On Daiel's Attack,Says NCP
BY EHICIOYA EZOMON,MUSTAPHA OGUNSAKIN, GODWIN IJEDIOGOR, LAOLU ADEYEMI (LAGOS) AND CHARLES COFFIE GYAMFI(ABEOKUTA)
THE volatile political climate in Ogun State may have worsened with the arrest for questioning yesterday of former governor of the state, Chief Segun Osoba by policemen from the Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan Lagos.
The team of six policemen was led by Mr. Kayode Agunbiade, a Chief Superintendent (CSP) including the zone's Deputy Public Relations Officer, Mr. Monday Agbonifo arrived at Osoba's Bourdilion road, Ikoyi, Lagos residence around 6.10p.m.
The former governor who was said to have been invited for questioning and for him to volunteer statement on an undisclosed subject was however released on bail at exactly 9.25p.m.
Chief Osoba told The Guardian on telephone last night that he was made to sign a N50 million bail bond on personal recognition before he was allowed home.
The former Alliance for Democracy (AD governor was said to have received a telephone call from the Assistant Inspector General in charge of the zone, under which Ogun State falls, intimating him of the invitation and assuring him of his possible release shortly after volunteering a statement
On arrival, the team leader, Agunbiade greeted Osoba in the Yoruba tradition and pleaded with him to accompany them to the Zone 2 Headquarters.
Osoba was said to have hesitated, insisting that he was not sure of being allowed to return to his home yesterday, being Friday. He asked to be allowed to report on Monday. He further said he had consulted with his wife, Derin and son, Olumide, both of whom expressed the same fears.
However, after consulting with his lawyer on the telephone, the former governor agreed and followed the policemen to the zonal headquarters at exactly 7p.m in company of his wife and son .
They left the house in a Mercedes Benz Jeep with registration number ST 10 AAA through Awolowo Road en route Onikan,Lagos, arriving there 15 minutes later.
But his son and others, including journalists and his first daughter, Mrs. Fadeke Hassan who arrived later were barred from entering the premises.
The political peace in Ogun State was rocked on Tuesday, October 19 when the convoys of Governor Gbenga Daniel and his wife were attacked at separate locations. The First Lady was on her way to Ilaro to flag off the child de-worming programme and was attacked by students of the Federal Polythenic in the town. The governor, trying to see things first hand himself had his convoy attacked on his way to Iwoye. The police have so far arrested some persons over the incidents.
Immediately after the incident, the government had blamed it on its political opponents, especially the AD, a charge denied by the party.
Days earlier, the Olu of Ilaro had withdrawn a traditional chieftaincy title billed to be conferred on one of the top notchers of the AD, Mr. Dipo Dina who blamed the state government for allegedly pressurising the monarch to do so.
Osoba's invitation for question may not be unconnected with these incidents for which the state government had accused him of being the mastermind, an allegation he has since denied. As at 9pm yesterday, he told The Guardian on phone that he was signing the bail form in the presence of the AIG and could not say whether he was going to be released afterwards. The AIG could not be reached.
In Abeokuta yesterday, amid a stream of solidarity visits to commiserate with him over the attacks on him and his wife, Governor Daniel urged the people of Ogun State not to take the laws into their hands.
The appeal follows the people's vehement reaction to the attacks, which he alleged were sponsored by Osoba
Daniel told The Guardian that the people were "unhappy and livid and it is important that I appeal to them. And I want to use this medium to implore our people not to take laws into their hands because it is only in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility that a nation can make progress."
The governor said his government had concrete evidence indicating that Osoba was the mastermind of the attacks on him and his wife.He said the facts had been turned over to the police for necessary action.
Yesterday, the governor's House on Ibara area of Abeokuta received a stream of solidarity visits by individuals and groups cutting across all shades of the public.
While thanking God for sparing the lives of the governor and his wife, one after the other, the visitors condemned those behind the attacks and urged that the law must take its full course against them.
However, Governor Daniel has been urged to look beyond the former governor Chief Osoba for his attackers on Tuesday.
The governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the state in the last election Mr. Lanre Banjo who gave the advice described the attack as improper and uncalled for.
In the state government's reaction to the incident, the Information and Strategy Commissioner Mr Niran Malaoh had accused Osoba of being behind the attack, citing purported security report and preliminary investigation.
But the state's chapter of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) challenged the government and the security agents who wrote the said report to confirm the facts. The party absolved Osoba of role in the attacks.
In a statement in Abeokuta yesterday, Banjo who said that attacks and violence in whatever forms should stop in the state advised Governor Daniel not to see Osoba as behind any opposition to his administration.
The NCP chief insisted that while it was in order for anyone to protest, it was wrong to turn such protest into violence.
He however was not happy that the violence resulted in the killing of some students by the police. Banjo said: "We have lost too many students through the bullets of the Nigerian Police and this must stop."
He argued that the police could have arrested the protesters who were students from Ilaro Polytechnic instead of killing any of them."I advise Daniel not to be deceived by political jobbers, elite and royal fathers who are not interested in the welfare of our people," he said.
Banjo appealed to Gov. Daniel to realise that the students who embarked on the demonstration as a result of not having light for three moths leading to the attack on the convoys did so out of frustration."
In a similar development a group, Believers Frontier condemned the attack. A statement by the group's Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kehinde Ojo stated: "Our state deserves good governance being inspired by Governor Daniel through the laudable programmes, policies and projects of this government. Encourage robust and positive criticisms that will give the people of Ogun State a better alternative, not violence."
The group appealed to the opposition parties, especially the AD to cooperate with the state government in its efforts to improve the lot of the people.
Appealing to stakeholders not to turn the state into a battle field, the group advised Governor Daniel not to allow the recent development to divert his attention from the good works his administration has been doing.
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