By Precious Mark
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has raised alarm over a wave of political violence and intimidation in the state, accusing the police of working in tandem with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to target members of his administration and allied parties.
Speaking on Thursday at a peace summit ahead of the upcoming August 15 governorship election, Adeleke stated that his presence at the meeting was solely out of respect for peace leaders, despite initial reservations over what he described as months of continuous attacks.
“I should have boycotted this peace meeting because of the violence unleashed on Osun State in the last few months, on the directive of Gboyega Oyetola. However, my presence is due to my very deep respect for our peace leaders here present,” Adeleke declared.
The governor claimed that over the past three months, eight party members have been killed and more than 20 others injured in gun attacks, alleging that known APC thugs operated unchecked while security operatives looked on.
He further disclosed that over 60 members of the Accord Party and top government functionaries, including the Secretary to the State Government, have faced arbitrary arrests, midnight raids, and detentions without proper warrants.
Singling out the transfer of detainees to prisons outside the state, Adeleke questioned the legality of moving suspects to facilities in Abuja and Nasarawa State instead of arraigning them before competent courts within Osun.
“Under which law can a state police commissioner take instructions to arrest members in Osun State and move them to Abuja and be held in prisons without any charge?” the governor queried, appealing to the peace committee to intervene and compel the Inspector General of Police to return all detainees to the state.
Adeleke directly accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, alongside the state police command, of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation to tilt the electoral playing field.
“There is an active plot to kill and maim Osun people before, during, and after Osun elections. Our dear peace leaders, there is an active progression towards genocide in Osun State,” he warned.
While maintaining that his administration and supporters have exercised immense restraint to avoid a breakdown of law and order, Adeleke noted, “So far, we have refused to retaliate. My people have not resorted to self-help. This is not out of weakness, but due to our firm belief in the rule of law. We are committed to peace, but we are presently having a peace of the graveyard.”
He concluded by demanding absolute neutrality from security agencies, a fair electoral umpire, and an environment where the votes of Osun citizens remain supreme during the August 15 polls.
“Our request is for impartial policing, a fair and just electoral commission, and supremacy of voters’ will at the polls,” he concluded.