Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the police of siding with the opposition ahead of the August 15 governorship election, alleging that the state is witnessing a dangerous escalation of politically motivated violence….
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the police of siding with the opposition ahead of the August 15 governorship election, alleging that the state is witnessing a dangerous escalation of politically motivated violence.
Addressing a peace summit on Thursday, Adeleke said he attended the meeting out of respect for members of the peace committee despite what he described as sustained attacks on his administration, supporters and residents over the past three months.
“I should have boycotted this peace meeting because of the violence unleashed on Osun State in the last few months. However, my presence is due to my very deep respect for our peace leaders,” the governor said.
He alleged that eight members of his party had been killed and more than 20 others injured in separate attacks, claiming that no arrests or prosecutions had been made despite what he described as widespread video evidence.
“Our gathering is to endorse peace, but my government and people are facing police-sanctioned violence and intimidation. War is being waged actively against my people,” Adeleke said.
The governor further alleged that more than 60 members of the Accord Party were being held in police custody without being charged, while several party leaders had been transferred to detention facilities outside Osun State.
He also claimed that the Secretary to the State Government was recently detained after his residence was searched without a court-issued warrant.
Questioning the transfer of suspects to Abuja, Adeleke argued that any criminal allegations should be handled by courts within Osun State.
“We ask the Peace Committee to prevail upon the Inspector-General of Police to return everyone in police custody. Those remanded in prisons should be returned to Osun State and charged in courts in Osun State if the police can show they have committed any crime,” he said.
The governor accused former Osun governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, of directing political intimidation in the state, an allegation for which he did not provide evidence.
He warned that there was “an active progression towards genocide” in Osun and appealed to the peace committee to engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevent further violence.
Calling for impartial policing and credible elections, Adeleke urged security agencies to remain neutral and ensure that voters’ choices were respected.
“We are committed to peace, but we are presently having a peace of the graveyard. We are ready for August 15; Osun people are ready to vote,” he said.
He concluded by appealing for free and fair elections, insisting that “the supremacy of voters’ will” must prevail at the polls.
