The Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, has denied his arrest by the military.
Oke said his rumoured arrest was a political means devised by his detractors to score cheap political goals.
Rumours were rife in the state on Friday that the AD candidate was arrested by the Military for allegedly carrying arms.
Reacting to his alleged arrest, Oke through through his media aide, Mr Kolawole Olabisi, said he was not arrested at any time by either the military of any other law enforcement agent.
He accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being the sponsor of the rumour, adding however that the campaign of calumny peddled against him only made him more popular.
“As I talk to you now, Chief Olusola Oke is in Mahin in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State canvassing for the support of the people of the area in the forthcoming gubernatorial election,” the aide stated.
According to him, both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP in the state are intimidated by the rising popularity of Oke, hence their resolve to blackmail and other mischievous acts aimed at soiling his reputation.
“Oke is a responsible citizen of Nigeria and he has been moving round the state since he launched his campaign. He left Akure this morning for Ilaje Local Government and he had met with different people there.”
“By the way, why will Oke be arrested when he did not commit any offence? He did not carry arms, neither did he carry ammunition. The rumour was the handiwork of his detractors whose aim was to soil the good reputation he has built over the years,” he added.
He said, “the PDP resolved to peddle the rumour of Oke’s arrest and use the social media to circulate the rumour as a result of the court of the indefinite adjournment given by the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The PDP led by Governor Olusegun Mimiko is afraid of Olusola Oke, especially with the court decision which did not favour them, hence the baseless rumour.”
He noted that the rumour was baseless and had no iota of truth, and therefore enjoined members of the public, especially residents of the state, to discountenance it in its entirety.
“Oke is a free Nigerian and he will return to Akure today to meet with his co-ordinators. This is to tell you that he was not arrested by any agency of government,” he stated.