The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.
Lasun Yussuff has alleged of threat to his life for expressing his interest to
run for the governorship race of Osun State.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of the lawmaker on
Saturday, the head of the Constituency Relations Office of the Deputy Speaker
in Osogbo, Hon. Niyi Ogunsola said Yussuff had continued to receive series of
threat in the recent past, which had put his life in danger.
Ogunsola alleged that the latest of the series of threats
were the ones from some members of All Progressive Congress (APC) Osun caucus
in the House of Representatives, including Hon. Jibola Famurewa, Hon. Mojeed
Alabi, Hon. Ayo Omidiran among others.
“In the press statement made after the tributes on Late
Senator Isiaka Adeleke at the plenary on the floor of the house, the said
caucus members categorically said that the expression of fear of danger on the
life of Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff was built on emotion.
“Also, Prince Gboyega Famodun, who is the chairman of APC in
Osun sternly warned by way of threat in page 11 of the Punch Newspaper of
October 31, 2016 that Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke and Hon. Lasun Yussuff should
suspend their governorship ambition.
“He further stated in the said publication that the party
will discipline both Isiaka Adeleke and Lasun Yussuff if they refused to stop
their ambition.
“We consider this statement as a threat, and expression of
hatred to Yussuff by Famodun, under the guise of the party.
“In furtherance to his threat, on February 20, 2017, Mr
Famoodun again on a Radio programme said Lasun Yussuff is on his own, while the
Deputy Chairman of the party, Mr Azeez Adeniji in another programme some weeks
later described Lasun Yussuff as a prodigal son,” he said.
He further accused he former Commissioner of Justice during
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola first term, Mr Wale Afolabi of masterminding a threatening
test message against Yussuff, where he was warned not to attend a function.
“The threat was reported to the Director of of the
Department of State Services (DSS) Osun State Command, who investigated the
source of the threat, and found out that one Mr Abimbowo was the sender.
“LMr Abimbowo was arrested and during interrogation, he
confessed that Mr Wale Afolabi, a former commissioner for Justice and Attorney
General in Osun under the government of Mr Rauf Aregbesola ordered him to send
the text.
“In the same vein, Dr Bashiru Ajibola, a former Commissioner
on Special Duty in the government of Mr Rauf Aregbesola mobilised thugs to stop
Lasun Yussuff from the construction of Eid’s perimeter fence for a community,
saying that he was acting on the order of the state government.
“In conclusion, the above public instances and actions are
pointers to the fact that the life of Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff is in danger.
“This became important because we do not want any death to
occur to anyone in such a mysterious way it had happened in the case of Senator
Isiaka Adeleke,” he stressed.
By Ajibola Olaniyi
