As countdown to August 15 governorship poll in Osun begins, Governor Ademola Adeleke and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have differed over the former’s push for economic sanctions and visa ban against the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, the opposition flag bearer, Bola Oyebamiji, and Senator Francis Fadahunsi.

Adeleke, had in a statement by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, asked the United Kingdom (UK) Delegation, led by its Senior Political Advisor, Wale Adebajo, to consider sanctions and visa ban against the trio and some leaders of the APC for actively promoting violence, through their cronies, which he claimed, allegedly resulted in recent killings and gun attack in the state.
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Adebajo had disclosed that the British Delegation was in the state to engage stakeholders on building peace ahead the election.

Also listed in the visa ban include the lawmaker representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi and the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council, Honourable Wole Oke.

Lauding security agencies for their intervention to stop violence, the governor accused the APC leaders of festering violence, restating his previous call on the security agencies to arrest any suspect regardless of political affiliations.

“I have zero tolerance for violence. I have told the Inspector General of Police that if my son is involved, he should be arrested. I told the world we harbour no thugs anywhere and the police can and should arrest any suspect. There must be strict law enforcement, “Adeleke stressed.

However, while responding, the APC’s director of media and information, in Osun State, Kola Olabisi, yesterday accused Adeleke for being the real promoter of violence, saying the UK should disregard his advocacy for sanctions against the opposition leaders.

Olabisi, who accused Adeleke of misinforming the British government, said the development exposed him as someone who had failed to learn good governance since his over three-year uneventful administration.

“It is improper for a state chief executive to be opening his mouth before he thinks which is the reason there have been reported cases of acts of misgovernance and policy somersaults under the administration of Governor Adeleke.

“If we may ask, which court or commission of enquiry indicted the APC chieftains as being responsible for aiding and abetting political violence in Osun State ahead of the forthcoming governorship election?

“One would have thought that the lying and grossly incompetent governor would be bold enough to tell the visiting delegation of the British Government how he has been frustrating the job of the police by harbouring dangerous political hoodlums in the Government House to evade arrest.

“Why did the governor who is desperate for re-election fail to inform the visiting delegation of the British Government how some of his aides are now standing trial in an Abuja court over the killing of our chieftain, Honourable Remi Abass, former chairman of Irewole Local Government Council area of the state over a year ago, “he queried.

Meanwhile, speaking at a separate meeting meeting with UK Delegation, held inside Ileri Oluwa House, Osogbo, told

to disregard Governor Ademola Adeleke’s advocacy for economic sanctions and visa ban against him by the British Government.

Meanwhile, Oyebamiji, who also met with the Senior Political Advisor of the British High Commission, Wale Adebajo, at Ileri Oluwa House, in Osogbo, on Tuesday evening, commended UK’s engagement with political gladiators ahead of the polls.

Responding to Adeleke’s call for UK economic sanctions and visa restriction against him, Oyebamiji stressed that “if any political party had reason to make such a request, it would more logically have been our party, the APC. Let me explain why.”

“Permit me to also address recent media reports alleging that foreign missions, including the British High Commission, were urged to deny entry visas to members of our party. I regard such reports as entirely unfounded and, frankly, the joke of the century”, Oyebamiji stated.

The meeting was attended by the Director-General of his Campaign Council, Honourable Wole Oke, the Osun State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassador, Honourable Sunday Akere, former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Honourable Timothy Owoeye, and other APC chieftains.

Video clips of alleged murder victims, who were members of the APC, including the chairman of Irewole Local Government, Remi Abass, suspected murder suspects being allegedly harboured in Government House, Oke Fia were also shown to the UK Delegation.

Adebajo, subsequently restated that his delegation was in the state to hold consultation with key stakeholders as part of the moves to build peace and enabling environment for voters ahead of next month gubernatorial poll.