By Ola Ajayi
Ibadan—AS investigations into the murder of a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Temitope Olatoye, who was shot dead by gunmen at Lalupon area of Lagelu Local Government, Ibadan Oyo State, Chief Whip of Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, who is being quizzed by the Police has said he knew nothing about the murder of the lawmaker.
Olatoye Temitope
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Akinmoyede said late Temitope Olatoye aka Sugar, who represented Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency before his death during the governorship and House of Assembly March 9 elections, was his political ally who he respected a lot.
The detained lawmaker, in a statement by his media assistant, Mr. Segun Olawale, said the fact that he and the deceased were in different political parties did not translate into political rivalry that would cost him his life.
Akinmoyede, who contested the Lagelu State Constituency for a second term on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, but lost to the rival Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has since been in detention at the State Criminal Investigations Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, for alleged involvement in the incident.
He said: “Although both of us are from rival political parties, Sugar was my friend, brother and long time political ally. We were together in APC for a very long time before he defected to the African Democratic Party, ADP, the platform he contested Oyo South Senatorial election on.
“I am a man of peace and this can be attested to by my political associates, my colleagues in the House of Assembly and, indeed, the people of my constituency. The fact that Sugar and I were not from the same political party does not mean that we should be at eachother’s
throats.
“Incidentally, we were not contesting the same political office. While he contested the Oyo South Senatorial seat, I contested the Lagelu State Constituency for a second term.”
…says he wasn’t arrested
Contrary to earlier reports that he was arrested by the state police command, he argued that on receiving a call from the headquarters of the State Police Command at Eleyele, Ibadan, his attention was needed in connection with Sugar’s death.
He said he honoured the invitation by voluntarily walking to the police command since he knew that he was innocent as far as the incident was concerned.
He stated that the unfortunate killing of Olatoye did not happen at his polling unit, Ward 7, Isale Osun, where he had earlier cast his vote and that there was no crisis whatsoever while the voting lasted until the arrival of the federal lawmaker in Lalupon town from his Alape Village with his “boys” which resulted in the electorate scampering for safety.
According to him, “it was not long after that I heard exchanged of gunfire between Olatoye’s boys and some people at the Lalupon motor park which eventually culminated in his being shot.
“I am therefore surprised by the reports in a section of the media to the effect that I was arrested by the Police. I must state that I was never arrested. I reported myself to them voluntarily upon receiving their call.”
Akinmoyede, a former Chairman of Lagelu council, called on the Police to intensify their efforts and do thorough investigations with a view to finding the legislator’s killer(s).