OPINION: Osun towns locked down over Tribunal verdict Protest

By Joshua Oladipo
Some Protesters were on Saturday seen acrossed major streets in Osun blocking roads , burning tires and singing anti-opposition songs to show their grievances against the Osun Election Petitions Tribunal judegment delivered by Justice Tertsea Kume.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) reports that people from Osogbo , Ede , Ilesa , Ile-Ife , Ilobu , I lla-Orangun , Ile-Ogbo , among other local government areas of the state , trooped in hundreds to the state capital , Osogbo to protest the Tribunal judegment.

NAN further reports that the popular Ayetoro Road in Osogbo was filled by protesters who took enough time to sensitise public about the travesty of justice perpetrated by tribunal chairman, Justice Kume. At the Old Garage in Osogbo, a mammoth crowd of protesters converged and embarked on unending songs of solidarity to Governor Adeleke, while they in unmistakable terms condemned the judgement with lyrics of curses.

A leader of the governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr Ganiyu Olaoluwa, addressed the protesters, condemned the judgement and said regrettably that it endangered democracy.

NAN Correspondent also spoke with some protesters who expressed dissected views on the Tribunal judegment, adding that they voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the July I6, 2022 elections, but vowed to stand by Gov. Ademola Adeleke, whom they described as real winner of the polls.Some protesters feom the PDP and other political parties who also joined in the protest , said they expressed their resolve to defend their votes even with the last drop of blood in their veins.

Speaking with one of the protester, Mr Jamiu Adedeji said their will and determination should not be underrated, adding that Osun had since rejected Oyetola.

Motor parks were shut down with an unusually desolate look.Members of the Akoda, Ede branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) also joined the protest around Olaiya junction and declared a break of service.

Also, transportation activities in Osogbo and some strategic locations in the state recorded no or less vehicular movement .

One of the protesters, Semiu Abiodun said people came out in solidarity with Gov. Adeleke because the tribunal judgment was manipulated and a danger to democracy.Abiodun called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the international community to step in and ensure that such the judgment does not stand.

“We are out today because we are not happy with the tribunal judgement, it is obvious that APC manipulated it. This type of judgment is dangerous to our democracy. It means that our votes will not count and justice can not be served.

“I called on President Muhammadu Buhari, United Nations and other international community to step in, such judgment must not stand”, he said.

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