Date: 2018-05-18

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has debunked the accusation that he orchestrated the recent arrest of some youth in Kwara South by the Police.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the minister said that he "vehemently rejects this accusation" levelled by Kwara South Youths Stakeholders.

In the statement signed by his Special Adviser, Segun Adeyemi, the minister stressed that he had nothing to do with the arrest of the youth.

He said he believed that, contrary to the allegation by the stakeholders, the arrest had nothing to do with the Ward Congress in his hometown of Oro.

"After all, suspected cultists were also recently arrested and paraded by the police in Ilorin.

"The police, in the exercise of their constitutional responsibility, do not need to be goaded by anyone to carry out arrests where necessary," he said.

Concerning the outcome of the election in his Oro Ward 2, the minister said he had made his observations on the conduct known to the appropriate party authorities, in line with his strong belief in the rule of law.

"Suffice it to say, however, that the only credible Ward election was the one held by the genuine party members in Oro Ward 2.

"That explains why, after the election, there was a rally around Oro Town that eventually terminated in my country home,"

The minister stressed that he did not believe there was any linkage between the election and the arrests.