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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has appealed to the Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee to save Osun State from what he described as an impending police-induced genocide ahead of the state’s governorship election.
The governor raised the alarm while addressing a peace forum chaired by former Chief of Army Staff, General Martins Agwai, alongside Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Cardinal John Onaiyekan. He alleged a systematic plot to kill, maim, and incarcerate leaders of the Accord Party through what he called an unholy alliance between Osun APC thugs and the state police command.
Adeleke echoed recent warnings against political violence issued by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan. He decried what he termed a concerted push to eliminate Accord Party leaders and urged peace leaders to halt what he called a progression toward genocide.
“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.”
He told the forum that his government and people are facing police-sanctioned violence and intimidation, and accused the Osun APC of waging an active war against his people with the open support of the state police command.
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“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.”
The governor further claimed that more than 60 Accord leaders have been arrested and moved to Abuja, where they remain remanded in prisons in the federal capital and in Nasarawa State. He questioned the legal basis for the transfers, noting that Osun State has both a Federal High Court and a State High Court where suspects could be arraigned.
“There is an active progression towards genocide in Osun state.”
He asked why prisoners were being held so far from home. “This is supposed to be a democracy, where the police uphold the rule of law. 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?” he asked.
Adeleke asked the Peace Committee to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police to have everyone in custody returned to Osun State, and to have those remanded in prisons brought back and charged before courts in the state if the police can establish that any crime has been committed.
He warned that an active plot exists to kill and maim Osun residents before, during, and after the election, and urged peace leaders to recognise what he called an active progression toward genocide in the state.
“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.”
Adeleke called on the police to emulate other security agencies that have remained professional and impartial during the electoral period. He commended Accord Party members and Osun residents for refraining from retaliation despite the attacks, stressing that their restraint stems from a firm belief in the rule of law rather than weakness.
“Our request is for impartial policing, a fair and just electoral commission and supremacy of voters’ will at the polls.”
He made the remarks before stakeholders that included politicians, civil society representatives, and senior security officials. The forum drew wide participation as Osun State prepares for its governorship election, with INEC pledging to conduct a free, fair, and credible process.
The governor’s office released the statement as part of continuing efforts to draw national attention to the security situation in Osun State ahead of the polls.
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