The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has said he is too busy to respond to careless talk regarding the allegations levelled against him by the Osun State Peoples Democratic Party.

The party had accused Egbetokun of colluding with the All Progressives Congress to enforce what it described as a “non-existent” court order aimed at reinstating former local government chairmen in the state.

Addressing journalists at the party’s state secretariat in Osogbo, on Wednesday, the Chairman of Osun PDP, Sunday Bisi, accused the IG of also planning to destabilise the state and potentially assassinate Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Reacting to the matter during the decoration of senior officers in Abuja on Thursday, Egbetokun said he would only challenge distortion of facts as against a statement that is “contrary to reasoning.”

He said, “I read about the allegations, but I refuse to dignify such absurdity with a response. I believe in challenging the distortion of facts. We will not allow the distortion of facts against us to go unchallenged.

“But statements that are clearly contrary to reasoning don’t deserve our response. I am too busy for careless talks. I will not respond to such absurdity.”

Egbetokun clarified that the deployment of additional police personnel to Osun was strictly in response to the request of the state’s Commissioner of Police for reinforcement.

“Mine is to respond to the call of the Commissioner of Police in the state for reinforcement. We have reinforced the command, and we have enough men on the ground to ensure that there is law and order in that state. To ensure that there is no more breakdown of law and order in the state.”

He urged the people of Osun to remain calm and go about their normal activities.

Egbetokun said, “That’s what we have done so far. My advice to the people of Osun State is to remain calm. They should go about their normal businesses and ensure that the rule of law prevails in the state.

“The state is calm now. Did you hear of any violence again? It’s calm now.”

The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Ambassador Umar Illiya Damagun, has urged the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, federal government to abandon any thoughts of taking over the government of Osun State through the imposition of a state of emergency.

During a media chat, Damagun specifically called on the APC government to refrain from putting further pressure on the Osun State government and to allow Governor Ademola Adeleke to remain focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people. He also warned against the bloodshed occurring across various local government areas.

Ambassador Damagun pointed out that the renewed furore was part of the APC strategy to reignite its onslaughts and threats, as previously expressed by an APC leader who boasted that the party would take over Osun State and Oyo.

The PDP acting National Chairman cautioned, saying, “Nigeria is not a banana republic; there is a limit to what the citizens can tolerate.”

His remarks during the media chat were contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by his personal assistant, Nuru Shehu Jos.

Regarding the alleged APC government’s meddling that has caused the latest uproar in Osun State, Damagun advised the federal government to focus on fixing Nigeria’s economy rather than interfering in the political process.

He lamented the skyrocketing cost of living, stating that everyone is now experiencing its negative impacts.

He added: “Today, people can no longer afford to feed, and insecurity has engulfed Nigeria under the APC government.”

According to him: “Fixing Nigeria should be the government’s priority, not unlawfully capturing more states.

“It is clear that the people have rejected the APC government in Nigeria, so no one should contemplate using a state of emergency to suppress the opposition.”

Damagun emphasised: “Let it be clear that Nigeria belongs to all of us. There should be no room for any form of intimidation.”

“The APC government must understand that the citizens of Osun State deserve security and good governance, which are currently being provided by the PDP government. Records show that the people are happy with Governor Adeleke.

“I want to warn those attempting to undermine democracy to be aware of the consequences of their continued plots. They cannot keep pushing Nigerians to the wall. This is unacceptable! We are not at war; we are simply taxpayers who deserve good governance.”

During the meeting, the PDP chairman also urged security agencies to remain non-partisan and objective in their duties.

He said: “Security personnel must remember that they are being paid with taxpayers’ money. They must protect all citizens and refuse to take sides.

“We call on all citizens to remain vigilant and wary of the APC’s tactics, as these will not continue unchecked. The APC government must understand that the people have rights, and they are willing to exercise them at any time.

“As the leading opposition party, we will continue to use lawful means to voice our concerns and protest injustices against our party and members.”

Damagun assured the media: “The PDP believes in the rule of law. It is a party stronger than any individual or group.”

Going forward, he assured Nigerians and PDP members that, under his leadership, the party would not allow anyone to create divisions within its ranks.

“It is natural for political parties to experience internal disputes, but the beauty of the PDP is its internal mechanisms for resolving challenges. The PDP will always remain the party to beat. There is no cause for alarm.”

The acting National Chairman encouraged the citizens of Osun State to remain steadfast and loyal to the PDP while supporting Governor Adeleke in his development efforts across both urban and rural areas.

He urged the Osun State government not to succumb to APC distractions, assuring that the PDP nationwide would continue to show solidarity and support for Governor Adeleke and the PDP family.

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) has urged President Bola Tinubu to act quickly to address the local government situation in Osun State.

Governor Bala Mohammed, the forum’s chairman, issued an appeal on Thursday in Abuja.

Mohammed said that PDP governors noted with concern the recent political violence in the state which led to loss of lives and destruction of property.

He urged Tinubu to direct all law enforcement agencies to contain the situation in the state without further delay, restore law and order and ensure preservation of lives and property before it got out of control.

He also called on the Director-General of Department of State Service (DSS), the Inspector-General of Police and the heads of other law enforcement agencies to act on time.

“The concern of the PDP-GF stems from the fact that the Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun had warned about the imminent breakdown of law and order and appealed to the responsible authorities to act to forestall this,’’ he said.

Mohammed condemned the resort to self-help by political players whose conduct ought to have been guided by the provisions of extant laws in a democratic society.

“The forum further notes, with deep worry, the resort to violence as a means of settling political and legal disputes and warns all those fanning the embers of discord to desist forthwith.

“The PDP-GF commends the governor of Osun for the timely warning in the form of statements he issued before these political actors resorted to violence. His action is a mark of exemplary leadership,’’ he said.

Mohammed, who charged all the stakeholders in Osun to abide by the law, said that political leadership should be about patriotic sacrifice and service to the people and not about bloodbath and violent criminal conducts.

“In this regard, the PDPGF further avers that with regard to the protection of lives and property, there are no partisan divides or ideological divisions.

“Every political leader should be serving the people and working towards their safety, protection and welfare.

“Finally, the PDPGF is desirous of seeing a full and total return of normalcy in Osun, the restoration of law and order and the quick identification and decisive trial of all those charged with violent disruption of the peace in Osun,’’ he said.