By Richard Akintade
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday called on Governor Gboyega Oyetola to “salvage his eroding integrity”, by choosing not to appeal against the judgement of the tribunal panel that sacked him as governor of Osun State.
By accepting the option of not appealing the judgement, the PDP said Oyetola would be seen as a hero, the development that may offer him even bigger political opportunity in the future.
The PDP, in a statement signed by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Diran Odeyemi, copies of which were made available to newsmen, also urged Oyetola to search his conscience and ask himself if he truly won the September 22nd governorship election.
Odeyemi in the statement said, “We are aware that the sacked governor of Osun, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, professes Islam which like other religions teaches fairness, equality, peace and truthfulness he should search his conscience and ask this pertinent question “did I truly win the governorship election”?
“Sentiment apart, Alhaji Oyebola is a refined gentleman, very religious but whose gubernatorial election was favourably manipulated by APC and INEC to discredit his person and personal belief and we believe he will not want his integrity to be dragged into the mud”
“The whole world as represented by International observers knew how INEC and security agencies colluded with the APC to rig the poll including the rerun and we knew it would not stand”
The PDP spokesperson further told Oyetola not to succumb to the pressure from the people that want to use him to have continued access to Osun’s treasury.
“Oyetola should remember that he will continue to bear the moral burden of sitting on another man’s mandate, he should remember that history will continue to recall him as a beneficiary of a stolen mandate.”
“But the judgement delivered at the Tribunal presently offers him a rear chance to restitute and tow the part of honour as we are aware that INEC is unwilling to appeal the unambiguous conclusion of the judges” Odeyemi added.
He then commended the judiciary for standing for the truth and warned APC against further disrespect for the judiciary and the Constitution of the country by attempting to circumvent the course of justice.
