Founder of Aaraj Empowerment Foundation (AEF), Engr Raji Kehinde has raised alarm over threats to his life, which he alleges are linked to a defamation petition filed against two aides of the Osun state governor.
Aaraj alleged the Osun State government of threat to his life through Tunde Badmus who doubles as the Personal Assistant on Political Affairs and Chief of Staff to the Osun Central Senator Olubiyi Ajagunla and one Special Assistant to the Governor on Community communication and Media aide to the wife of the Governor, Popoola Oladayo.
In a telephone interview with our Correspondent on Tuesday, Raji Kehinde expressed grave concerns for his safety and called for public awareness regarding the dangerous implications of political disputes in the state, calling the appropriate authority to act on the matter before it is too late.
Aaraji detailed receiving explicit threats from individuals connected to the Osun State government, which he believes are attempts to intimidate him following the petition written against four people for publicly calling him a fraudster and CYBERBULYING .
Araaji confirmed that some unknown person are tracking him through telephone which was confirmed by Popoola Oladayo as the man behind the tracking. “I feel that my life is in danger,” he stated.
“These threats are an effort to silence me after I exposed the truth about what Tunde Badmus wrote on facebook to defame me. It’s alarming that in our political landscape, speaking out can lead to threats rather than discussions.”
“Popoola confirmed through a WhatsApp message that he sent people to track and arrest me.”
According to the WhatsApp message by Popoola: “Who is calling to beg the mumu man who has been on the run since the last few days? He was lucky they didn’t meet him at home yesterday. The breaking news would have filled the atmosphere by now. Someone who is already on the run. They tracked him from Ileshan Remo to Papa Malu Akinyele in Ibadan. Egberun Raji Kehinde Aaraj kole samo agbofinro lowo. Kuje ni solution.”
WhatsApp message by Popoola
The threats reportedly intensified after Badmus released a scathing statement last Friday, September 20, 2024, where he described Aaraj as a “fraudster with no political value.” He condemned Aaraj for attempting to extort N30 million from Senator Ajagunla in exchange for his alleged political support before the 2023 elections.
Badmus emphasized. “Raji Kehinde Aaraj is an animal without honour, and anyone dealing with him is taking a serious risk.”
In light of the defamation, a petition was filed to the Osun State Police CID by Aaraj, against the defamation and libel.
The petition signed by Aaraj’s lawyer, Maruf Muhammad Esq and obtained by our correspondent, asked the security agency to intervene in the matter.
However, the police have summoned Mr Badmus,Mr Idowu Adeyemi and Mr. Ola Awoyemi to discuss the situation in a meeting scheduled for Wednesday September 25, 2024 at 10am. But instead of them to wait till the summon date, Mr Tunde Badmus was said to have confirmed through a WhatsApp message to be tracking Aaraj from Osogbo to Ibadan for arrest.
“I urge the public to stay vigilant and aware of the serious implications of these threats against me and what they mean for our democracy. I will not be silenced,” Aaraj concluded.
