The Osun Progressives faults the arrest of its member by security personnel.
The Osun Progressives (TOP), a Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the systematic attempt to intimidate its members with state security apparatus by some government officials.
The group in a statement signed by its chairman, Revd Adelowo Adebiyi and made available with the newsmen in Osogbo on Thursday said, alleged intimidation of the members by some security apparatus allegedly working for the government is totally condemnable.
“We note with sadness that democratic norms are being violated by this tendency and we state that it will never serve anyone with good purpose”
The group faulted the unwarranted intimidation of staunch member of the Osun Progressives, Mr. Tunde Boladale is currently being held at the State Security Service (SSS) where he had reported since 12noon, based on invitation by the state director yesterday.
They said, It is unfortunate that a situation like that is happening to a member of APC who just concluded his service to his local government, Isokan, as a Councillor.
It was learnt that, Mr Boladale had been allegedly invited to a meeting by the state commissioner for youth and sports, Mr Yemi Lawal who hailed from the same local government where he directed him to renounce his membership of the Osun Progressives (TOP).
Boladale who was said to have refused saying, that since Lawal will not renounce his association with Otunba Omisore who brought him from SDP to APC, he can not renounce his relationship with Aregbesola.
“The next thing was the invitation by the director of SSS where he was alleged to have made some statements against the Governor and asked about his membership of the T.O.P.”
While denying making any statement against the Governor, Boladale affirmed his membership of T.O.P and unalloyed loyalty to Aregbesola who he said did a lot of good things that he appreciates.
The group however condemned in strong terms, the persecution of Boladale for holding view and the assault on his freedom of association.
” Indeed, we consider such steps as anti democracy and a serious negotiation of the provisions of the constitution”.
” We note that the invitation of the SSS was premature and unnecessary as a report made to them much earlier of a state Commissioner vomiting verbal assault on video has not attracted their attention till now”
“We smell bias and bad faith in the prompt invitation and detention of Boladale as an example of what to expect by the SSS by anybody with opposing views to the present government”. The statement concluded
