Let police determine if Osun senator’s comments were unlawful — APC
The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, has said the police should determine whether comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi were unlawful, urging the public to allow the authorities to investigate the matter.
Morka spoke on Arise News on Wednesday while reacting to controversy surrounding comments made by the Osun East Senatorial District representative at an APC campaign rally in Ilesa.
Fadahunsi was heard making remarks that were widely interpreted as urging supporters to attack members of the Accord Party.
Morka said it was not the responsibility of political parties or individuals to determine whether the senator’s remarks constituted an offence.
“I don’t think it’s for any of us, you know, yourself, myself, you know, even the party, to be second-guessing what was said or didn’t say. That is the job of the police,” he said.
He noted that Fadahunsi had been invited to explain his comments, adding that the police should establish the context and determine whether further action was warranted.
“I understand, you know, he’s been invited to explain his comments. So I think we must, you know, wait for the police to do their job and, you know, properly, you know, put his statements in context and decide whether or not there’s anything illegal or unlawful about his comments to warrant further action by the police,” Morka said.
The APC spokesman also condemned the violence reported in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, saying political participation should not expose citizens to danger.
“The events unfolding in Osun, the level of violence, is disturbing on so many levels,” he said.
“People have no business getting killed or injured just because they try to participate in an election called by the country in their state. So it’s really condemnable that anyone would perpetuate violence or encourage it.”
Morka called on the police and other security agencies to investigate those responsible for acts of violence and bring them to justice.
“We at the APC, we totally condemn all of the acts of violence that we’ve witnessed in Osun in the lead-up to this election,” he said.
He added that the party was confident of its chances in the election and would seek votes based on its record and performance rather than violence.
“We, as a party, don’t participate in violence because we are confident about our case, which we are making or have made to the people in Osun, and as we make to people elsewhere when it comes to elections, to vote for us on the basis of our record and our performance,” Morka said.
Fadahunsi had earlier honoured the police invitation and was questioned for hours at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo over the campaign video.
He was later seen leaving the police headquarters with an entourage, although details of the interrogation were not immediately disclosed by either the police or the senator.
