Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Thursday, accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of employing the Department of State Security Services to harass the opposition.
PDP also condemned what it described “as the ongoing media trial of Hon. Damilare Bello representing Sagamu Constituency I, who was arrested last night by DSS officers allegedly in connection with the last Sagamu cult clashes.”
PDP State Publicity Secretary, Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole, in a statement made available to newsmen, said the party was concerned that the investigation was not being done with utmost professionalism and sincerity.
The main opposition party also expressed dissatisfaction with how “the government of Prince Dapo Abiodun is currently supervising the over-sensationalisation of the arrest as news of the arrest was being carried by all state-owned media organisations even when nothing incriminating was found in his residence at the time of his arrest yesterday. The whole thing is an orchestrated attempt to give Hon Damilare Bello a bad name just to hang him”.
It further claimed that the Sagamu residence of the lawmaker was vandalised by some hoodlums, urging security agencies to probe the incident.
“As a law-abiding political organisation, our great party will work with the DSS, and indeed other security agencies in ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun state but we shall also not fold our arms and watch the governor, who is still utterly bitter with imminent electoral defeats, to throw innocent members of the public under the bus”.
Minority Leader of Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon Lukman Adeleye, also confirmed the arrest of the lawmaker on Wednesday night around 12 am.
According to Adeleye, “Yes, we were at the DSS office today (Thursday) to check on Hon Damilare Bello who was arrested in a Gestapo manner within the legislative quarters, Abeokuta in the hours of Thursday say around 12 am. We condemn the manner of the arrest, which we see as just sheer intimidation from the Executive arm of the government. We are further saddened by the fact that the state government was already circulating the information of his arrest and that he was found with guns whereas the DSS didn’t tell us that.
“The DSS has required that we should allow them to do their jobs and we have agreed and equally told them to be fast about whatever they want to do. So, we are hoping for the best and that justice will eventually prevail.”