As counting of votes continued in the governorship election in Osun State yesterday, the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital said that the Federal Government deployed soldiers in the Osun State governorship election to forestall bloodletting in the state.
The minister who spoke with newsmen in Ibadan said soldiers were drafted to Osun to maintain peace and orderliness during the election.
“If the military had not been drafted to Osun’s election, blood would have been flowing there. The soldiers there are highly professional and they are there to ensure a crisis and violence-free election. The whole idea is to create a conducive atmosphere for a free and fair election and President Goodluck Jonathan should be commended for this.
“You, gentlemen of the press can see me in Ibadan live and direct today (yesterday). As you too can see, I am not in Osun not to talk of being part of the election there. As I speak with you now (12:45p.m) APC has invaded Osun with thugs. What APC is doing is in contradiction of electoral guidelines. We had election in Edo where the military was involved and Adams Oshiomole won. APC did not complain. Recently, we had Ekiti election where PDP won. And people adjudged the election to be free and fair. APC leaders should learn to be good losers,” he stated.
