With Mumini Abdulkareem
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of allegedly behind report suggesting division in the party following its petition to the National Human Right Commission over the demolition of Ile-Arugbo.
The PDP described the report as totally false, unfounded and mischievous describing it as an impolitic design/tactic by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and a section of his party, the All Progressives Congress.
In a press statement Sunday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Tunde Ashaolu, the PDP party said there is no faction or division within its fold adding that it remained an indivisible family under the leadership of Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki and chairmanship Engr. Kola Shittu.
“The attention of the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has been drawn to a spurious and silly press statement signed by some faceless and unscrupulous elements, presupposing that there is division in the party.
“In the statement, it was suggested that there is a faction within the Kwara PDP that is not in support of the petition written by the leadership of the party to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), calling for the probe of use of live ammunition and tear gas to dispel aged, defenceless and innocent women during the unlawful demolition of Ile Arugbo by agents of the Kwara State Government, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.
“This is totally false, unfounded and mischievous, and we can’t but laugh at the puerile imagination that birthed the publication, which we believe is an impolitic design/tactic by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and a section of his party, the All Progressives Congress.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no faction or division within our party; Kwara PDP remains an indivisible family under the chairmanship of Hon. (Engr.) Kola Shittu and leadership of Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
“As a party, we have made our position known on the unlawful demolition of Ile Arugbo, and all members and supporters of the party are in support of actions taken so far by the party leadership to ensure that justice is done in the matter.
“On our petition to the NHRC, we want the Commission to investigate the incident so that the perpetrators will be brought to book and to also forestall the recurrence of such arbitrary use of force and violence against innocent and defenceless Kwarans.
“The probe has even become more imperative as the Kwara State Police Command has denied any involvement in the dastard and barbaric act. The Kwara State Government must tell us the uniformed and armed men who fired live bullets and teargas to disperse harmless aged women. No right thinking member of the public will, therefore, query or condemn our petition to the NHRC”, the statement added.
