The lawmaker representing Oriade State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Kanmi Ajibola, has petitioned three persons to the Police for defamation.
It is reported that the constituents in June this year accused the lawmaker of underperformance since his election over a year ago.
The Lawmaker filed a complaint on 5th September 2024 against a journalist, Sodiq Lawal, Tunde Omole and Ogunsanya Olasunkanmi.
Sodiq Lawal who reacted to the petition noted that the lawmakers action is as a result of the criticism by a group known as Oris Solidarity Forum from Oriade Local Government.
Lawal, a journalist at Within Nigeria said the Solidarity Forum declared a 3 day prayer and fasting session in June 2024 urging constituents to pray for Ajibola due to his alleged neglect of their needs.
It had been reported that the group had experienced a year of what they described as a lack of engagement from Ajibola and criticized his sole public contribution as changing the state’s slogan and logo.
Lawal after receiving the summons from the police rejected the accusations stating that the criticisms were intended to call the lawmaker to account not to defame him.
He said the Lawmaker was trying to stifle legitimate dissent and suppress calls for better governance, and the fasting was done out of concern for the welfare of the constituency.
Lawal also suggested that the lawmaker should pursue further training in leadership and representation to better engage with his constituents and meet their expectations.
However, Ajibola in response to the criticism denied the allegations, noting that he had been performing his duties as expected.
He argued that the allegations against him are baseless and that he has been fulfilling his duties as a lawmaker.
According to Ajibola, “As a journalist, you will write and report correctly not that you will be inciting people against me. He(Lawal) went on three different radio stations, maligning my character, maligning my ability.
“I did a petition because at a time, the way and manner I heard him speaking about me, it gets to the verge of threat to life. God secures life but we have to take legal precautions and that was why I wrote a petition on the ground of threat to life and criminal defamation. He is instigating my constituents against me.
“I never met him before in my life and I don’t have any issue with him.”
The three accused will have to be present at the police station to clarify the allegations leveled against them.
