…warn ruling party, govt against defamatory comments
… ask police, DSS, others to investigate Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Lere Oyewumi, others over killings in Osun
Following the weighty assassination allegations credited to the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and his party, the People Democratic Party, PDP, against the personality and office of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun on the lingering political crises in the state, Civil Society Organizations – Coalition for Good Governance (CGG) and Mandate Protection Vanguard (MPV) have berated Adeleke and his party for resorting to cheap political blackmail to taint the Police Force in the country.
The CSOs condemned in its entirety the diversionary tactics employed by the government, warning them to toe the path of honour instead of resorting to self-help occasioned by their defamatory comments capable of heating up the polity.
This is even as the frontline CSOs implored police, operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies to investigate the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Lere Oyewumi, member Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Ibrahim Inaolaji over the gruesome killing of Irewole Local Government Chairman, Hon. Remi Abass.
Recall that crisis erupted in the state immediately the sacked but reinstated chairmen and councillors across the councils resumed to their various offices last Monday.
Meanwhile, there have been allegations and counter allegations from members of the opposition party and ruling party over the interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling that reinstated the council officials.
Addressing a Press Conference on Thursday, the conveners of Coalition for Good Governance (CGG) and Mandate Protection Vanguard (MPV) expressed great concerns over the lingering political crises that had claimed lives in the state.
The conveners of the CSOs, Comrade Nelson Ekujumi and Comrade Gbenga Soloki, expressed sadness on the political tension mounting in the state which had taken a new turn with the spurious claims of the State Government that the top Police authorities, including the Inspector General of Police, were planning to Assassinate the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
The duo described the allegation of assassination of a state governor as a weighty one which borders on Treason hence thorough investigation into the matter.
“We are sad that the political tension mounting in Osun is taking a new turn with the claim of the State Government of Osun that the top Police authorities, including the Inspector General of Police, are planning to Assassinate the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
“The allegation of Assassination of a state governor is a weighty one which borders on Treason. And as we are aware, Treason is a capital punishment in Nigeria. Therefore, such a weighty allegation should be thoroughly investigated and ascertained if it is a wild goose chase by the Osun State Government to escape and deflate the counter criminal allegations levelled against the state government by the Opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Our investigation has revealed that name-calling and blackmailing of the Inspector General of Police is a ploy to divert the attention of the law enforcement agents from investigating and bringing to book perpetrators of Monday carnage in Osun State.
“From all indications, the carnage appears sponsored and the Police must do everything to apprehend the troublers of peace in the state. All the identified thugs, particularly Nurudeen Alawonle, who was recently arrested with a police pistol and Emir Ajagungbade, who is facing charges of kidnapping, terrorism and murder at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, must be arrested for investigation. That these two suspects have been alledged to be associates and appointees of Governor Adeleke raise serious concerns”, the CSOs condemned.
Commenting on the pocket of crises that enveloped the appeal court verdict, the civil society organizations called on the security agencies to beam their searchlight into the matter in order to bring the culprits to book.
They commended the high sense of professionalism and dutifulness of the security agencies in the state, saying “as keen observers of polity and political events in Osun State, we are of the firm belief that the security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police and the Directorate of State Security have discharged their constitutional responsibilities dutifully and professionally and they have decently managed the carnage that took place in the state.”
While condemning the palpable recalcitrant attitude of the state government to conduct local government election, the CSOs said “we are troubled that Security in a hitherto peaceful Osun State is being stretched by actions of political actors.
“Regrettably, the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has not been able to show the deserving and needed leadership and it’s unfortunate and sad”, the duo noted.
