The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been described as a “nest of cultists” that needs to be further investigated by security agencies to make more arrests and stem the tide of cultism in the state.
In a statement issued in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on Sunday, 24 September, 2023 and signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, the All Progressives Congress (APC), commended the recent arrest of a PDP lawmaker representing Sagamu Constituency (1) at the state House of Assembly, Damilare Bello (alias Dre) and five other notorious cultists wanted by security agents at the official residence of the lawmaker in Abeokuta.
Oladunjoye urged security agencies not to leave any stone unturned in their investigation of the recent cult violence in Sagamu and other parts of the state.
The statement reads: “Cultism is a menace that deprives the society of peace, kills and maims cult members and even the innocent non-members, cutting down the youths at their prime. It cannot be tolerated, no matter whose ox is gored.
“It is no longer a rumour that notable members of the rag-tag PDP in the state are involved in cultism as high-ranking members in their various local government areas. We urge the security agencies to track and monitor the type of meetings the so-called honourable members are holding, hosting and presiding over in their constituencies.
“The PDP after its ramshackle petition at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, after losing all its 11 petitions in the National Assembly elections against APC, has resorted to high level of absurdity in its vain attempt to distract the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun.
“It was therefore, not surprising that the PDP rushed to town, via preemptive paid adverts, to cry wolf over the recent unwholesome and violent cult clashes in Sagamu and attempted to mischievously tag the APC. It shamelessly tried to link its failure at the polls with the cult clashes.
“It therefore became ironical when the top brains behind the Sagamu cult clash, after fleeing Sagamu, became the ‘special guests’ of the PDP House of Assembly member, who was using his official quarters to provide cover for the Sagamu escapees.
“Suddenly, the PDP that urged the security authorities to do their jobs, is now blackmailing the same authorities when its House of Assembly member and other top cultists have been arrested in the residence of the assembly man. It is most shameless that the PDP even pronounced that ‘no weapon was found on the cultists’, against the discovery by the Department of State Service (DSS) that effected the arrest of the senior cultists.
“Our position that there have always been a strong hand behind the Sagamu violence, especially the burning of more than ten banks purportedly over naira-swap protest, has been vindicated. No amount of lies and blackmail should deter law enforcement agencies from bringing the culprits to book.
“Part of the strategy of these top members/sponsors of the cults, especially in Sagamu, has been to travel out of the country when the planned clashes are being effected, and later return to claim alibi. It is a pattern that could easily be verified by the investigators.
“The wizard cried yesterday and the child died today, it is not too difficult to trace the killer of the child. In Ogun State, for the cultists and their sponsors, the chicken has come home to roost. The PDP cult masquerades are being unveiled and the security agents should go the full hog.”
