Withdraw illegal arms from PDP political thugs in Osun — APC tells NSA, IGP

Worried by the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunitions in Osun State, the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno(rtd) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Alkali Baba, to give an immediate and urgent attention to the demilitarisation of the state.

The Osun  State Acting Chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, in Osogbo, the state capital on Sunday, stated that it is disheartening, worrisome and scary that the whole state has become a garrison for the political hoodlums who are loyal to Governor Ademola Adeleke and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who openly flaunt sophisticated arms and ammunitions in all the towns and villages across the state.

Lawal disclosed that these political thugs who have become willing instruments and tools of oppression, victimisation attacking, maiming and killing of the opposition members by the PDP since the inauguration of the administration of Governor Adeleke on November 27, 2022 have turned the entire state into an abattoir for the slaughtering of human beings.

The acting State APC Chairman hinted that the cheapest items in Osun State under Governor Adeleke’s administration are needless unjustifiable attacks and killings, stating that no fewer than 30 members of the opposition have been sent to their untimely death by the Adeleke goons within less than hundred days of his administration.

He explained that the PDP and Adeleke have been using the armed thugs to threaten, scare and terrorise the members and supporters of his party from casting their votes for their choices of candidates in all the past elections in the state.

Lawal stated that before any free, fair and credible election can be held in the state, there is need for the NSA and the IGP to immediately embark on withdrawal of arms which has turned the state into Namibia of the 1970’s where incessant killings were the orders of the day.

He reminded both the NSA and the IGP that they owe the inhabitants of the state the duty of statutory protection of their lives and property as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Lawal explained that the doctrine of his political party of absolute belief in the rules of law which is the hallmark of any genuine democrat would not allow the members and supporters of his party to take to the rule of the jungle where the use of might and force are the instrumentalities of daily operations of the inhabitants.

In his words, “I doubt it if there is any credible, free and fair election that can be held in Osun State under the present heavily militarized condition by the PDP thugs.

“We enjoin your good offices to handle the suggested withdrawal of the illegal arms and ammunitions from the PDP political thugs before the House of Assembly elections this Saturday with dispatch.

“What we are saying is that the electorates should be allowed to vote for their choices of candidates without coercion,” Lawal submitted.