Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday, July 30, described the current situation in the state as ‘an unfolding genocide,’ blaming his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, for the orgy of violence in the state.
Adeleke said this during a ‘peace summit’ held on Thursday regarding the governorship election coming up on August 15.
In his address at the summit, Adeleke said he would have boycotted the peace meeting because of the violence unleashed on the state in the last few months but his presence was due to his respect for leaders that were present.
He said: “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.
“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 leaders here present.
“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.
“I urge our peace leaders to help Osun State, stop a progression towards genocide against Osun people.
GENOCIDE IS UNFOLDING IN OSUN
“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.
“Presently, more than 60 Accord members are in police detention without being charged to court. The Secretary to the State Government was arrested on trumped up charges and was detained overnight after his house was raided without any court-authorised search warrant.
“Top government officials are being harassed and intimidated. More than 60 Accord leaders have been arrested and moved to Abuja, and remanded in Abuja prisons and Nasarawa State prisons, including an Accord candidate for House of Representatives, Hon Alaba.
“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?
“Why Abuja? We have both the Federal High Court and State high courts in Osun State, where anyone can be arraigned.
“On behalf of Osun State and for the sake of the rule of law, I 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 be charged to Courts in Osun State, if the police can show that they have committed any crime.
“Just a few days ago, the leader of APC thugs who was actively fingered in all the attacks was helped by the police to take over garages and motor parks across Osun.
“There is an active plot to kill and maim Osun people before, during and after Osun elections. Our dear peace leaders, there is a active progression towards genocide in Osun state.
“We call on the police authorities to emulate other security agencies which have been very professional. Police must be impartial like other security agencies.”
