Two days after losing to PDP, Aregbesola descends on staff of state owned radio, TV

Two days after his party lost the Osun West senatorial election to the opposition, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has descended heavily on staffers of the state-owned Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC).

Sources within the corporation disclosed that as at Monday, at least three staffers have been issued with suspension letters.

Those who were hammered are Mr Kunle Makanjuola, Mr Gbadebo Adepoju and Mrs Folakemi Alonge. The affected persons were reportedly never issued any letter of query before being suspended.

OSBC, popularly referred to as Voice of the South West, has four stations: two radio stations and two television stations.

Though the reasons for the actions are not yet known, many suspect that it may not be unconnected to the loss suffered by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Osun West bye-election held on Saturday.

Read also: Ominous signals for Aregbesola as APC loses Osun West to late Adeleke’s brother

Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated the candidate of the Aregbesola-led APC party in the state, Mudashiru Hussain by 97,480 to 66,116 votes.

According to the sources, the three staffers of the OSBC were allegedly placed on indefinite suspension for jubilating after the victory of PDP’s Adeleke in the Saturday by-election.

Efforts to get government’s angle and its reasons for the action proved abortive as the phone line of Mr. Semiu Okanlawon the Chief Press secretary to Governor Aregbesola, was switched off.

Recall also, that a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, had mocked Governor Aregbesola after the results of the poll were released, and PDP declared winner.

Fani-Kayode asked him to shave his beard and resign following alleged statement credited to Aregbesola, where he reportedly said that he will shave off his beard and resign, if PDP won an election the state.
The former minister reminded him that “Adeleke has won”, adding, “Shave off your beard and resign.”

 

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