We have observed with utmost consternation how the Arise Television has been strangely constituting itself into an arm of the ruling deregistered Accord Party in Osun State particularly on the issues bothering on the lingering local government administration in the state.
Of particular notice has been the constant opposition position of one Rufai Oseni, a morning show co-host and analyst, who would never see anything worthy of commendation in our party but total condemnation at all times.
We were surprised that the Arise Television during one of the programmes anchored by the controversial and pliable television host mischievously wrote in its news strap 'APC CHAIRMEN DIVERTED N320BN LG FUNDS', the clip of which has gone viral, with a motive to misinform and incite the members of the public against our party.
It is preposterous and absurd for a television host to be hiding under the television tube to turn himself into an arm of a political party from where he constantly throws jibes and missiles as a way of fulfilling his contractual duty for whatever is suspected to be a pecuniary attraction in order to impress his hirer behind the scene.
It is even more ludicrous how a mere television host has turned himself into a court of law who frivolously interprets and misinterprets rulings and judgements to satisfy his own whims and caprices and subsequently impress his backyard political employer.
Oseni and his medium of mass communication from where he is frivolously engaging in taking an undue advantage of the people and organisations should know that he is guilty of abuse of his access to a means of mass communication which is not in anyway adding any value to the organisation he is working for but rather constituting himself to an irredeemable liability.
Nigeria is not a jungle when it comes to our justice system which is however, the reason our Court of Appeal reinstated our chairmen and councillors and why their sit at home Chairmen and Councillors are going through the whole hog of taking the constitutional window of opportunities to explore the full legally permissible cycle of the ongoing litigation.
Various questions come to mind from the above unsubstantiated allegations contained in Oseni's comments as mischievously reflected in the ticker that the Osun State Local Government officials diverted 320 Billion Naira; that there is a court pronouncement to that effect and that the Inspector-General of Police did not "act on" the matter.
A closer look at the news strap and allegations, and a juxtapose to the facts on ground may provoke some salient questions thus: Which court pronounced that Osun State Local Government officials diverted N320 billion? The pungently biased Arise Television co-host should furnish the public with the facts of the case, parties, and suit number, and most especially, the certified true copy of the judgement.
How exactly did the said local government officials divert the money? The word "divert" means you moved something to another location. From where and to where did the officials divert the money?
Oseni alleged the Inspector-General of Police of refusal to "act on" the matter while he is the same person who said the court has "pronounced". Does the police have power to dabble into a matter on which a court has given judgement? Or did the court order the police to take any action on anything? If so, where is the court order?
We are all aware of the cases involving Osun State Local Government Council Areas. All of them are civil and have to do with the lawful occupation of the offices of local government chairmen and councilors. There has never been any issue of corruption in any of the cases. Where did Oseni's allegations come from?
Without a criminal complaint, the Inspector-General of Police cannot fabricate one; see Part VII, Nigeria Police Act 2020, so, where is the criminal complaint? Who are the complainants?
Oseni said people died and the Inspector-General of Police did not take any action, on what premise did he infer that submission? Can he furnish evidence to support his claim that the Inspector-General took NO action on the killings?
It speaks volumes of the unstable character of the pliable Arise Television morning show co-host who is approbating and reprobating at the same time. The Oseni report is not only misleading and inciting, it is a criminal defamation which he ought to be wary of. The opportunity to hide behind a TV screen is not a licence to defame others.
e-SIGNED:
*Mogaji KOLA OLABISI, Osun State APC Director of Media and Information.*
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