The internal crisis within the Osun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is getting messier.
A caucus of the APC in the state, Omoluabi Progressives Caucus (OPC), Monday, cried out over an alleged attempt to silence its leader, former Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola.
The caucus in a statement Monday by its publicity secretary, Abosede Oluwaseun, fingered Ismail Omipidan, the media aide of Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and some unknown people in the state.
The group called on the security agencies to look at the purported statement made by Omipidan that Aregbesola may not survive the political war against the party and persons that brought him to political reckoning.
“We urgently draw the attention of the law enforcement agencies and all responsible individuals to the evident and explicit threats against the life and freedom of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, clearly expressed in this hostile narrative by an impolite Omipidan.
“It is apparent that Omipidan and his backers are relentlessly pursuing their agenda to kill Ogbeni Aregbesola, a distinguished public figure, with worrying determination,” the group said.
Reacting to the allegations, Omipidan described his linkage with the attempted killing of Aregbesola as ‘malicious and unguarded.’
Omipidan, who said he has no history of political violence however little, said all those who sat down to put the statement together before Abosede Oluwaseun appended his signature needed to have their heads thoroughly examined to ascertain the state of their mental health.
He said: “Only an unstable mind and character would accuse a person of my standing, who in the last two decades has no record of political violence of an alleged threat to the life of a former governor and a former minister.
“As a journalist, my records of service in all the states that I have practiced are open books. Those accusing me are only trying to dress me in a borrowed robe. They know those who are in the habit of using extrajudicial means by deploying non-state actors to deal mercilessly with perceived opponents.
“If this strategy is aimed at preventing me from pressing charges against Osun Defender and its reporters for lying against me, it has failed. I will press charges. It is going to be a long battle, but I am prepared for it in Sha Allah.”