- Safiu Kehinde
The Osun State All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign spokesperson, Oluremi Omowaiye, has come under fire after talking down at a journalist, questioning her educational qualification over political discourse on live show.
Omowaiye had on Monday appeared on Western Spring TV’s Morning Show where one of the programme anchors had questioned him on the campaign promises and agenda of the APC’s governorship candidate for the August gubernatorial election, Bola Oyebamiji.
The conversation would delve into questions pertaining to the administration of former governor, Gboyega Oyetola, with the journalist asking if Oyebamiji will be changing any major policy introduced by the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.
Omowaiye, in reaction, snapped at the programme host while diverting the conversation to the recent purchase of motorcycles for security operatives by the sacked Osun APC council chairmen.
“Is Oyetola contesting? Recently, few days, the APC local government chairmen brought Okadas for the security operatives.” The Osun APC Governorship Campaign spokesperson said.
This had raised question over the duty of council chairmen in state’s security.
The journalist asked if it is the statutory duty of the council chairmen to buy motorcycles for the security operatives which she considered to be the duty of the Federal Government.
She demanded if the chairmen had addressed their immediate primary duties such as maintenance of the primary healthcare centres.
While defending the council chairmen, Omowaiye’s statement ridiculing the journalist’s educational qualification led to an argument between the duo.
“You are a journalist and I expect you to know that the local government chairmen should also provide security for their local governments. If you don’t know, let me school you.” the APC spokesperson said before being interrupted by the journalist.
“You can’t school me. You should answer questions.” She fired back.
Omowaiye however continued as he claimed that the provision of materials for the security operatives is also a statutory duty of the council chairmen just like the state government.
“I’m schooling because you don’t know. The local government chairmen are supposed to take charge of the security of their local government.
“The local government chairmen are supposed to take charge of the security of their local government just as the State Government are supposed to also take charge of the security of their state.
“And part of the work of the local government chairmen is what they’ve done.” He said before questioning if the journalist went to school.
“Did you go to school at all? So you expect why is the state government accessing security vote?
“Governor Adeleke has accessed N14 billion security votes. I am telling you that if you go to school, you will know that the state do have a role to play in security. Why has he accessed N14 billion?” He asked.
Omowaiye’s statement had forced the co-host of the programme to intervene.
The journalist accused Omowaiye of maligning her personality while urging him to stay civil.
This had sparked outrage from netizens who slammed the OsunAPC chieftain over his statement.