“Peace of the Graveyard”: Adeleke alleges Police-backed attacks, seeks Peace Committee Intervention ahead of Osun Aug 15 poll

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Thursday accused the Osun State Police Command of enabling political violence and called on the National Peace Committee to urgently intervene to prevent further bloodshed ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Speaking at a Peace Summit in Osogbo, the governor said his administration had been under siege for three months, with members of his party allegedly killed, arrested, and intimidated with police backing.

“It is on a sad note that I welcome our peace leaders to Osun State. We are sad because our people, our government and my party men and women have been under siege and attacks for the past three months,” Adeleke said.

—“Police Sanctioned Violence”—

The governor alleged that the attacks were carried out “on the directive of Gboyega Oyetola,” Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and Osun APC leader, with “open support” from the state police command.

“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 by Osun APC openly supported by the Osun State Police Command,” Adeleke alleged.

He claimed eight members of his political camp, Accord, had been killed in the last three months while over 20 others sustained gunshot injuries.

“In the last three months, we have lost eight party members with more than 20 injured in gun attacks. There is no single prosecution or active arrest till date. The perpetrators are known Osun APC thugs with crimes committed in the presence of the police. Video evidence is everywhere on the internet,” he said.

—Mass Arrests And Transfers To Abuja—

Adeleke further alleged that more than 60 Accord members are currently in police detention without trial, including the Secretary to the State Government who he said was arrested on “trumped up charges” after his house was raided without a court warrant.

“Presently, more than 60 Accord members are in police detention without being charged to court,” he stated.

“More than 60 Accord leaders have been arrested and moved to Abuja, and remanded in Abuja prisons and Nassarawa State prisons, including an Accord candidate for House of Representatives, Hon Alaba.”

Questioning the legal basis, the governor asked: “Under which law can a state police commissioner take instructions from Mr Gboyega Oyetola to arrest Accord Party members in Osun State and move them to Abuja and be held in prisons without any charge? Why Abuja? We have both the Federal High Court and State high courts in Osun State.”

—Call for IGP, Tinubu Intervention—

Adeleke urged the Peace Committee to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police to return all detainees to Osun for prosecution, and to engage President Bola Tinubu to stop further violence.

 

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“We seek that you interface with Mr President to stop the Marine Minister, Gboyega Oyetola, the Osun APC and the Osun Police Commissioner from unleashing further violence on Osun people,” he said.

“We seek an immediate end to police unholy alliance with APC thugs and Osun APC.”

He also alleged that a political figure “actively fingered in all the attacks” was recently “helped by the police to take over garages and motor parks across Osun.”

—“We Are Ready For August 15—

Despite the allegations, Adeleke said his government remains committed to peace and a credible poll.

“We seek free and fair polls where peoples’ will should be supreme. Our people will severely resist rigging in all forms. 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 rule of law,” he said.

“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. Our request is for impartial policing, a fair and just electoral commission and supremacy of voters’ will at the polls.”

The governor thanked the National Peace Committee for its intervention efforts in the state.