The Senior Special Adviser to Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Comrade Fumisho Babarinde, has accused leaders of the All Progressives Congress of importing hoodlums from Lagos and Ondo states to foment violence ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
Babarinde also faulted the Presidency and the Inspector General of Police over what he described as their silence in the face of alleged intimidation, harassment and politically motivated attacks against supporters of the ruling Accord Party.
Speaking on Thursday during Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, Ogun State, the governor’s aide alleged that opposition figures were using violence and intimidation to discourage supporters of Governor Adeleke from participating in the election.
“We are going to make the whole world know that in Osun we are being intimidated and harassed by APC leaders in the state, and the Presidency is looking on. The Inspector General of Police has not said anything up till this morning,” Babarinde said.
He alleged that the political atmosphere in the state had become increasingly volatile, claiming that there had been politically motivated killings in several local government areas.
“Over the last couple of weeks, the atmosphere has been very tense. There have been killings that are politically motivated across the state, from Irewole to Boripe, Oriade, Osogbo and Ilesa. We won’t engage the Osun APC in violence. They are the ones terrorising us and bringing in hoodlums from Lagos and Ondo to cause crisis, but we will not retaliate because we have suffered enough collateral damage,” he said.
Babarinde further accused the Osun State Police Command of partisanship, alleging that security operatives had failed to act impartially in handling political matters involving the Accord Party.
“The only area where we have issues is that, as of this morning, the police have been a bit biased. Some of the issues they are handling are clearly against the Accord Party,” he alleged.
The governor’s aide also criticised the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, accusing him of failing to protect members of the ruling party.
“Osun Police Command is biased. The police are supposed to be fair, but under Ibrahim Gotan they are seeing to the maiming, killing and harassment of our people. He has just two years left in service and history will not be kind to him for what he is doing. He should check himself,” Babarinde stated.
He claimed that the level of intimidation had become so severe that party supporters were afraid to openly identify with the Accord Party.
“It has gotten to the point where people can no longer wear yellow caps or party insignia freely in the state without being harassed,” he alleged.
Babarinde also alleged that the legal challenge seeking to stop Governor Adeleke from participating in the governorship election was being financed by APC leaders in the state.
“It is APC leaders in Osun who are desperate about not wanting Ademola Adeleke to be on the ballot. They don’t want any contest. They are the ones funding it. You know the way these things work,” he claimed.
Despite the allegations, he said Governor Adeleke had repeatedly directed party supporters to remain peaceful and avoid any form of violence.
“The governor has appealed to our supporters to avoid violence under every circumstance because what some people want is a crisis that will disrupt the election,” he said.
Babarinde disclosed that the state government would formally present its complaints to the National Peace Committee during the signing of the peace accord by political parties.
“We are arranging a press conference. Civil society groups have been involved and everything has been documented. The Peace Committee will be in the state today, and all these issues will be tabled before them so that whatever action they need to take can be done,” he added.
He, however, assured residents that supporters of the Accord Party would not resort to violence.
“We will keep our cool. I can promise you that Osun people are not ready to engage anybody in violence or crisis,” he said.
Babarinde also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies to remain neutral and ensure a free, fair and credible election.
“What we are saying, in essence, is that the election should be free, fair and credible. Everybody should go to their polling units peacefully to vote, those monitoring the process should do so diligently, and INEC should be proactive,” he said.
He expressed confidence that despite the prevailing political tension, residents of the state would come out peacefully to exercise their civic responsibility on election day.
