23rd February, 2023
By Adejoke Adeleye, Abeokuta
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ogun state Chapter has accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of masterminding the Sagamu mayhem of Monday, 20 February, 2023.
PDP, while reacting to the accusations of the state government in a press conference held at Park-Inn Kuto Abeokuta, advised the governor to stop shifting blame of Sagamu riot on its candidates, whereas the real genesis of the crisis was the action of Abiodun.
The press conference led by the Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP, Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade said the governor was caught on video tapes inciting the public that any bank or commercial enterprise that rejected the old Naira note would be shut down and C of O revoked.
“On Sunday, 19th February, the Governor was in Sagamu distributing the old Naira notes and telling the people to go and deposit the old notes in the bank.
“On Monday, the day of the crisis, the old notes were taken to the banks but not accepted, that was what triggered the crisis.
“There are many questions begging for answers, why was it the day after Gov. Dapo Abiodun went to Sagamu that the crisis happened?
“Two, the mayhem occurred for not less than hours uninterrupted and the news was all over the social media, yet the security agencies could not put a stop to it for the period it lasted until the banks were completely destroyed and the Governor was at a Rally campaigning in Abeokuta.
“The next thing was for the Governor to attempt using the police to hunt our candidates in Sagamu, the police, after realizing the fact that our candidates were not involved backed off and left our candidates alone,” he said.
Akinlade stated that the governor being dissatisfied, went ahead to use the Department of State Security (DSS) to go after the PDP’s candidates for no just reason.
“It is unfortunate that the DSS went as far as breaking into the houses of five of our candidates and supporters without any Warrant. It is sad if Gov. Dapo Abiodun now descends to using security agencies to harass PDP candidates and hunt innocent citizens.
“This is also a warning to all security agencies particularly the DSS not to allow themselves to be used for political gains. They are to protect all citizens and not to be used by any governor or politician to suppress others,” he said.