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The president of
the Senate, David Mark, has demanded an apology from Rauf Aregbesola,
the governor of Osun State, over allegations of plans to destabilise
Osun State.

The Senate
president said yesterday he will seek legal redress if Mr. Aregbesola
does not apologise for “spuriously” alleging that he, the Senate
president, and other “eminent” Nigerians, were raising N1 billion to
fund a project which will knock the state off balance.

Mr. Aregbesola was
widely reported in the media as saying that some prominent Nigerians
were involved in the plot to raise funds to destabilise his
administration.

“We ordinarily
should not elevate such idle talk with a response, but for the
increasing enquiries from friends, associates and the general public on
the allegation,” Paul Mumeh, the chief press secretary to the Senate
president said on Tuesday.

“We frown at this
falsehood and unwarranted attack on the person and office of the
president of the Senate. We demand unreserved apology from Aregbesola,
or we would be left with no option than to seek legal redress,” Mr.
Mumeh said.

Believer in rule of law

Mr. Mumeh said the
president of the Senate is a statesman who believes in the rule of law
and commitment to development that will improve the lives of Nigerians,
and that it is “unthinkable and an affront” for the Osun State governor
to link Mr. Mark to issues that do not engender progress or development.

“The president of
the Senate is a builder, a lawmaker, and adherent to democratic ideals.
He believes in the right of every one to express his or her views but
in doing so, it should not impugn or insult the sensibilities of
others,” Mr. Mumeh said.

“We do not want to
be dragged into the politics of Osun State. We can only advise
Aregbesola that what the people of Osun State desires is purposeful
leadership, development that affects them positively and make the
society a better place, and not mudslinging.”

Mr. Aregbesola of
the Action Congress of Nigeria was, last month, proclaimed the winner
of the 2007 governorship election in the state. His victory put an end
to the seven-year government of the PDP and the governorship ambition
of some PDP politicians, including the chairman of the Senate
appropriations committee, Iyiola Omisore.

Mr. Omisore recently rejected the court ruling, saying the ACN government in Osun State was a product of judicial illegality.

Mr. Aregbesola has also alleged that Mr. Omisore was leading a group of people to raise money to destabilise his administration.