Former Osun State Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has vehemently rejected allegations that he is plotting to destabilize the state, calling such claims unfounded and baseless.
In a statement released by his media office on Sunday, Oyetola highlighted his history of public service and commitment to peace, stating that his track record over the past 15 years speaks for itself.
The former governor also appealed to his successor, Governor Ademola Adeleke, to respect the recent Appeal Court judgment rather than resort to what he called “cheap blackmail.”
Oyetola’s spokesperson described him as “a man of peace, a respecter of rule of law,” adding that he would never engage in any activity that would incite violence or disturb the peace. “For the four years he governed Osun, he gave a good account of himself as a man of peace, a respecter of the rule of law and one not given to violence,” the statement read.
Responding to the accusations of destabilization, Oyetola pointed out his peaceful conduct during the 2022 election period, despite what he described as being “brazenly rigged out.” The statement continued, “If he is given to violence, he would certainly have fought back violently in 2022 when he was brazenly rigged out.”
Oyetola also recalled his leadership during the sacking of democratically elected council officials by Governor Adeleke in 2022. “Again, in 2022, when Governor Ademola Adeleke employed extra-judicial means to sack democratically elected council officials, Oyetola as the leader of the party, never preached violence. Instead, he led the party members to court.”
The statement concluded with a call for the enforcement of the court’s ruling, urging security agencies to act in accordance with the law. “How can such a man be accused of a destabilization plot? I think anyone accusing Oyetola of violence needs to have his/her head properly examined,” it added.
Oyetola remains firm in his stance that his commitment to peace and the rule of law should not be misrepresented.