The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has insisted that his supporters are being killed and unlawfully detained ahead of the August 15 governorship election, warning that the people of the state would resist any attempt to manipulate or rig the poll.
The governor, who addressed supporters at Orita-Sabo in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State on Monday, also urged the President to fulfil his constitutional responsibility of protecting citizens from what he described as police harassment and politically motivated violence.
Adeleke alleged that Tinubu had remained silent despite what he called the political crisis allegedly being orchestrated in Osun by leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), even though, according to him, the Accord Party had already endorsed the President as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in a video from the rally, Adeleke questioned why Osun residents were allegedly being subjected to violence despite their political support for Tinubu.
“President Tinubu, I am passing this message to you. What else do you want Osun to do for you? We have already endorsed you as our presidential aspirant. What happened? Why are we being killed? They are killing Yoruba. The police is compromised. Kidnappers have already occupied Yoruba communities,” he said.
The governor further declared that Osun would resist any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the governorship election.
“President Tinubu, I am using this medium to tell you that I am the Chief Security Officer of Osun State.
“I am passing this message to you. Osun will not accept any rigging. We will go out en masse and vote. Don’t allow what happened in 1983 to repeat. Osun people have endorsed you as our presidential candidate. So why are we suffering? Why is our money being kept?” Adeleke said.
Drawing parallels with the political crisis that engulfed parts of the South-West after the controversial 1983 elections, the governor warned that history must not be allowed to repeat itself.
“President Bola Tinubu, do not allow rigging of the August 15 governorship election in Osun or risk political violence as witnessed in 1983. Oyetola needs to be called to order. All of us have children. You are killing people.
“I am saying this now boldly that the blood of innocent children being killed in Nigeria will cause havoc to those behind insecurity in Nigeria,” he added.
He also reminded the President of his administration’s support for his re-election, urging him to ensure that democratic principles prevailed in Osun.
“Mr President should act as the father of the Nation. We have endorsed your re-election. We have demonstrated our love for you. Instead of killing our people, now is the time for stakeholders to show love to Osun people.”
Maintaining that Osun residents would defend the integrity of their votes, Adeleke declared, “Osun people won’t bow to threats and intimidation. They want their votes to count. They will insist their votes must count. Osun people will resist any attempt to deny them freedom to choose a leader of their choice.”
Also speaking at the rally, leaders of the Accord political movement alleged that security agencies had intensified arrests of their members but insisted such actions would not stop Adeleke’s re-election bid.
The Director-General of the Imole Campaign, Senator Lere Oyewumi, accused the APC of working with the police to intimidate opposition supporters through arrests and violence.
“Osun people are resolved to vote and defend their votes. The voters’ support for Governor Adeleke is because of his good performance. Killing innocent people only strengthens the resolve of the people to re-elect the governor,” Oyewumi said.
The campaign’s Deputy Director-General, Hon. Kolapo Alimi, also alleged that several Accord leaders were arrested overnight and that their properties were vandalised during the operations.
“We heard the arrest will continue tonight. Arresting us won’t change the popular acceptance of Accord. We won’t be intimidated,” Alimi declared.
Similarly, the Accord candidate for Osun Central Senatorial District, Hon. Ganiyu Olaoluwa, alleged that members of the movement were being specifically targeted but vowed they would continue mobilising support for the governor.
“We know we are being targeted. We know over 60 Accord members are illegally detained. We know our houses are being raided. But we are determined to re-elect our governor with massive support of the people,” Olaoluwa posited.
Following the rally, Governor Adeleke met with members of the Butchers Association and the Hausa community, who, according to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, pledged their support for his re-election bid.