- Safiu Kehinde
In the wake of a leaked bomb threat voice note from an unidentified Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) chieftain, Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, has slammed N5 billion defamation lawsuit against the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Following Osun APC reaction over the threat, inciting Adeleke’s connection to the bombing plot, the Osun governor filed the lawsuit against the opposition party’s media Director, Kola Olabisi.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Wednesday, Adeleke directed his lawyers to sue Olabisi for N5 billion as damages over the defamatory statement by the Osun APC Media Director
Olabisi had accused the Osun governor of directing the release of a viral video which showed a supposed chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) threatening to bomb the state electoral commission and kill top officials of the agency.
He slammed the governor over his failure to condemn the threat, adding that such things should not be taken likely.
Responding, the Governor described the allegations as unfounded and demanded a retraction from Olabisi, as failure to do so will lead to as lawsuit against him.
The statement reads, “The allegation is reprehensible, baseless and defamatory. Mr Governor has ordered his lawyers to review the situation and demand retraction as the Governor did not and has not in any way planned or plot any attack on either INEC or any electoral official.
“Upon failure to retract the offensive publication, the state director faces a potential libel suit with a demand for five billion naira damages. This deliberate falsehood will have consequences.
“As much as we understand that Governor Adeleke’s superlative performance is driving many Osun APC leaders crazy, it is the height of insensitivity and irresponsibility to level such grievous allegations against a state Governor widely known as a man of peace across party lines.”