Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council on Tuesday exchanged accusations over a wave of violence reported in parts of Osun State, as both sides called for security intervention and investigations into the incidents.
The allegations followed reports of attacks and shootings in Osogbo, Ede and Ile-Ife, with the state government, the APC and the Accord Party offering differing accounts of the disturbances and assigning responsibility to rival political groups.
Addressing an emergency press briefing in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke condemned the coordinated attacks by political thugs allegedly associated with the governorship campaign of APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.
The governor, in a statement issued at the end of the press conference and signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, alleged that the attackers moved through several communities, including Akoda, Owode, Olaiya, Old Garage and Okefia, causing injuries and deaths, and called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
“As at the time of calling this press conference, several residents were feared injured and even one or two people killed,” Adeleke said, adding that security agencies should ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
He expressed concern over what he described as increasing politically motivated attacks in the state and urged residents to remain calm while investigations continue.
“Following the briefing, the governor visited injured victims receiving treatment at the Osun State Teaching Hospital in Osogbo and the Cottage Hospital in Ede, assuring them of government support and reiterating his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property,” the statement added.
However, the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council rejected the governor’s claims and accused supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party of orchestrating attacks against APC members and campaign assets.
In a statement signed by the council’s Head of Media and Publicity Committee, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, the APC alleged that campaign buses belonging to the party were attacked and vandalised in the Owode-Ede area, leaving several supporters injured.
The council called on Governor Adeleke to restrain what it described as political thugs loyal to the ruling party, saying, “We call on Governor Ademola Adeleke to immediately call his political foot soldiers, janjaweed and thugs to order before they plunge Osun State into a deeper state of insecurity.”
The APC also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to investigate the attacks on its supporters, campaign vehicles and businesses linked to party members.
Meanwhile, the Accord Party, through a statement signed by its Osun State Chairman, Pastor Victor Babalola Akande, alleged that armed thugs linked to the APC governorship campaign carried out shootings in parts of Osogbo and Owode-Ede, resulting in casualties and injuries.
The party called for a thorough investigation by security agencies, urging authorities to identify and prosecute all those responsible for the violence.
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