ANTI-PARTY: EKITI CPS, OYEBODE, DISCLAIMS VIRAL VIDEO

 

…Says Video was cheap blackmail, veiled campaign of calumny

 

The Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Olayinka Oyebode has described a viral video purportedly showing him campaigning for the opposition party  as untrue and malicious.

 

Oyebode who reacted to the viral video with a short write up that he went round polling units in his home country, Ido Ile Ekiti, campaigning for the candidate of the opposition party at last Saturday’s House of Assembly election said the video was the handiwork of some detractors whose goal was to make him a “target of a smear campaign”.

 

The SA Media who doubles as Chief Press Secretary to the Governor denied being one of the people in the video; stressing that linking him with the video was “a cheap blackmail and a veiled campaign of calumny targeted at the Government of Ekiti State” which he works for.

 

The government’s spokesman disclosed that on that fateful day he had cast his vote earlier and left for Ikogosi-Ekiti to coordinate the activities of journalists who were to cover Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s voting exercise.

 

Oyebode disclosed that he and some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were at the forefront of resolving some lingering issues between Okemesi and Ido Ile chapters of the party before the election and there was no way he would have led a campaign against the party which he works for.

 

He slammed the political camp of a former commissioner in the State for being responsible for the smear campaign against him having previously challenged the former commissioner for his “unjust and manipulative ways”.

 

“My attention has been drawn to a trending video accompanied by a short write up, purporting that I, Olayinka Oyebode, in company of some APC leaders moved from one polling unit to another in Ido-Ile Ekiti (my home town) urging people to vote for an opposition party, during last Saturday’s House of Assembly election. While I would have ignored both the video and those behind its circulation, because it does not represent the true picture of what happened, I cannot ignore the concerns raised by well-meaning leaders, mentors, friends and colleagues over the childish attempt by some elements to make me a target of a smear campaign”.

 

“For this and for record sake, I consider it important that I state my position as follows: I am neither in that video nor in any part of Ido-Ile Ekiti canvassing support for any opposition party prior to or during the State Assembly election as alleged. I cast my vote at my unit 002 and later left for Ikogosi-Ekiti to join my media colleagues (journalists and cameramen) to cover Mr Governor’s voting exercise. Linking me with the video and alleging that I moved from polling unit to another canvassing support for opposition party is a cheap blackmail and a veiled campaign of calumny targeted at the Government of Ekiti State which I work for. This is ridiculous and wicked”, he said.

 

The Governor’s media aide who urged all well-meaning members of the public to disregard the allegations reiterated his unwavering commitment to the growth and success of the All Progressives Congress.