The South West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked security agencies to go beyond just stopping the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) youths visit to Cuba, saying; “The youths should be investigated to know the level of their involvement and knowledge of the main mission for the trip.”
Security agents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, on Thursday night reportedly stopped the youths, numbering more than 50 from embarking on the Cuba trip, which was sponsored by the Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola.
PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon Kayode Babade, alleged in a statement issued today that; “as against claim by the ACN government in Osun State that the trip was for student activists to witness the May day celebration in Cuba, we have information that only seven out of the over 50 youths billed to embark on the trip were students.
The party said “other youths that were part of the trip were drawn from Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States and they were not student activists.”
“We wish to commend security agents at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport for aborting this Aregbesola’s evil trip to Cuba, a development that has vindicated us on our earlier stand that the Cuba trip was inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria.
“However, it is our belief that security agencies in the country must go beyond mere stoppage of the trip. They must investigate the youths that are involved in this trip with a view to finding out their level of involvement and understanding of the real mission of the trip.
“Also, background check must also be done on the affected youths so as to ascertain their past activities, political views and sources of livelihood.
“Our concern on this issue is premised on the present security situation in the country vis Governor Aregbesola’s radical political and religious views, which has remained a source worry not only in Osun State, but in the country.
“Nigeria cannot afford another Boko Haram, hence, our concern that activities of Aregbesola and his party, especially in relation to religious extremism and disintegration of the country must not be treated with levity.
“For instance, Governor Aregbesola’s continued defence of his change of Osun State to ‘The State of Osun’ is enough pointer to the fact that he (Aregbesola) and his party are desirous of precipitating crises in the country and this must be nipped in the bud before
another Boko Haram begins to stare us in the face,” the PDP said.