Teenager denies rape allegation against Kwara PDP chieftain
Mansur Aramide, Ilorin
A female teenager, Kamardeen Aishat, who was quoted last month in an online publication to have accused a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, Comrade Musbau Esinrogunjo, of raping her, has described the online publication as false.
She told newsmen in Ilorin that she was never raped by the former chairmanship candidate in the last local government elections. Rather, she said Esinrogunjo was her angel who had been assisting her with financial support to aid her academic pursuit.
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Disclosing that she had just secured admission into the University of Ilorin, Aishat described the publication as a well-planned political project to tarnish the career of the grassroots politician.
Flanked by her parents, Mr Kamardeen and Mrs Tawalitu Kamardeen, the Osun State-born teenager explained that she and her parents were embarrassed and disturbed by the news that the politician raped her.
Aishat, who will turn 18 next February, described the report as “false, politically motivated, and an attempt to tarnish the image of Uncle Esinrogunjo.”
She recalled meeting Esinrogunjo at a time she was in a serious financial mess while pursuing her academic goal and was advised to approach Esinrogunjo, known in the neighbourhood and beyond as generous, and whom many often run to for help.
“I was never raped by anyone. The rumours circulating online are false and politically driven,” Aishat stated, urging, “People should disregard those publications.”
Her father, Kamardeen, also debunked the rape allegation, describing his daughter as religious, disciplined, and well brought up.
“When I first heard that one ‘Aisha Kamardeen’ had been raped, I didn’t even think it could ever be my daughter. The publication mentioned a 15-year-old, but my daughter will be 18 in February next year,” he said.
“When the reality hit me that they were actually talking about my daughter, I knew the authors were getting at someone.
“I can boldly tell you all here that the story was cooked up to tarnish the image of someone who has been helping the less privileged.”
Similarly, his wife, Tawalitu Kamardeen, affirmed that her daughter is morally upright, religious, and not involved in any relationship, let alone sexual misconduct.
She added that the viral story was aimed at damaging both her daughter’s reputation and that of Comrade Esinrogunjo.
She, however, urged, “We call on well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the false online publication,” reminding all that her daughter will be 18 next February.
