Forner deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Oladapo Karounwi has dissociated himself from the recent violent attacks of some leaders of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Efon Alaaye, his country-home.
Karounwi who had kept mute over the sudden disappearance of his name from the list of the screened and recently inaugurated Commissioners list in Ekiti State ,however broke silence over the matter.
It was alleged that certain forces in the community linked him(Karounwi) to the unfortunate incident where some community leaders sustained heavy bodily injuries.
Since the incident, Karounwi,who is believed to be one of Strong allies of governor Biodun Oyebanji had gone underground .Neither the governor nor himself offer any explanation on the matter .
But in his reaction entitled:
PEACE BE ONTO EFON KINGDOM
By Karounwi Oladapo
Saturday August 12, 2023.
The ugly incident of July 31, 2023, that led to the attack of my highly respected father, Chief Bode Olayinka (BOS) ,my darling sister lya Oworo and my good egbon Olaitan Olayinka by Gbenga Owolesu is highly condemnable and can’t be justified by any reasonable person.
Painfully, I was alleged to have backed Owolesu’s action. This is far from the truth as I will not and cannot be part of such a disgraceful act. Infact, I was not in anywhere close to Efon when the incident happened. I left Efon few days before the occurrence.
Many youths have had association with me while growing up in Efon and none of them can say I trained them to follow the path of hooliganism. Some of them will be reading me here and they can give testimonies of what I made of their lives to the Glory of God. Infact, up to the time of writing this piece, I make bold to say nobody, either here in Efon or elsewhere, can come forward with credible evidence, to say I sent him at some point in time to engage in brigandage. All I am committed to is Politics of intellect and character and I am too old to deviate from that path.
I was wrongly alleged and I have taken the negative consequences of the allegations as a burden of leadership that I have to bear, though painfully!
Shortly after the incident, delegates were sent to Chief Olayinka by me in solidarity with the family as I was rather far out of town. I have ever since been communicating with Buoda Olaitan and others as my physical presence might escalate tension. I have also initiated genuine reconciliation with other Political Leaders and members of Our Party, the APC.
Lessons have been learnt and *I hereby dissociate myself from anybody in Efon or elsewhere, who has any form of relationship with me, that engages in violence and brigandage henceforth.* Such a person or group of persons are on their own. The law is there to take care of anybody with criminal tendencies.
Leaders through history have occasions that they carried the burden of what they knew nothing about and mine wouldn’t be an exception. Recently, Senator Bola Tinubu, now President, carried the burden of the EndSars Protests that almost consumed his life, properties, names and Political career. Yet he wasn’t involved in the issues that triggered the protests!
This is a passing phase. The storm will be over and we will all praise God together. I am committed to the progress and development of our great Kingdom.
Efon koni baje lagbara Olorun.