…the invasion was in connection with the hoarding of registration materials provided for the All Progressives Congress (APC) registration and revalidation exercise
The Police on Friday arrested the Deputy Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludare Kadiri for allegedly leading suspected thugs to invade the residence of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tokunbo Talabi, in Oru-Ijebu, Ijebu North Local Government Area of the State.
Kadiri, popularly known as Maba, is in detention at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.
Last week, an online medium had reported that there was tension in Ijebu North LG following the alleged invasion of the SSG’s residences in Oru-Ijebu and former Assembly lawmaker Hon. Adegbesan, by suspected thugs loyal to Kadiri.
According to the report, the invasion was in connection with the hoarding of registration materials provided for the All Progressives Congress (APC) registration and revalidation exercise currently ongoing.
Kadiri was arrested on Friday despite his denial of the allegation which he said was a set up to smear his political image.
The Deputy Speaker, through his aide, on Friday evening, accused the SSG of being responsible for his arrest.
He also accused him of working underground to unseat him as the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
He said since the appointment of Talabi as the SSG, he has been at loggerheads with him, particularly on matters that have to do with politics in Ijebu North Local Government Area.
He explained his current ordeal in the hands of the police, followed a complaint by loyalists of the SSG that he led some hoodlums to the residences of the SSG, Mrs. Toun Oduwole, and one Adekunle Yinusa, over the ongoing registration and revalidation exercise of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the LG.
According to him, he had gone to revalidate his membership of the ruling party at his constituency last Friday at his polling booth at Aba-Panu Ward 11 in company of his police orderly and DSS attache around 4p.m and returned home after the exercise around 7p.m.
Kadiri stated he was hanging out with his supporters at a popular tavern in Ago Iwoye when one of the APC leaders in his ward and former councilor, Hon. Obagun informed him that his (Obagun) house had been surrounded by the police.
“I asked Obagun to call his wife and tell her not to open the door until it could be ascertained that they were truly policemen.
“I also told Obagun to call the DPO of Awa Police station immediately to confirm if truly they were policemen.
“The wife later called us on phone that they had broken the front door to gain entrance and that the DPO was with them.
“The man, myself and my DSS attache went to the house where we met the DPO. I asked him what they were looking for and he said they were looking for APC registration materials reportedly stored in the house.
“And when I asked for his search warrant, he could not produce any. I was still there when I was alerted that some people had besieged the residence of the SSG.
“I personally went there to persuade the crowd not to invade the residence and exercise caution. So, why would anyone accuse me of something I never did?
“The matter is simple. The SSG is just calling a dog a bad name in order to hang him. He has been out to paint me black in Ijebu North because of politics.
“I have nothing to do with any invasion; I was even instrumental to how the crowd beat retreat that day,” Kadiri stated.
