Osun women on Monday stormed the streets of Osogbu, protesting against alleged police intimidation, political violence and killings ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The women, bearing placards with various inscriptions, sang solidarity songs at the top of their voices.
DAILY POST reports that some of the inscriptions read, “Stop Electoral Violence,” “We Want Ballots, Not Bullets,” “Election Is Not War,” “Vote, Don’t Fight,” and “Stop the Killings in Osun.
One of the women, simply identified as Eniola, while speaking during the protest, condemned the violence being witnessed in the state ahead of the election, stressing that political disagreements should never be used to justify killings, intimidation or destruction.
“Our children, husbands, brothers and sisters must not become casualties of political ambition. Elections come and go, but human lives cannot be replaced,” she said.
The women demonstrators pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to wade into what they described as a growing threat to the safety and security of residents of Osun State.
They also demanded the redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, alleging perceived partisanship.
The women urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to protect citizens regardless of political affiliations, noting that the police must ensure equal protection for political parties, candidates and their supporters.
According to them, all reported cases of violence and unlawful conduct should be investigated and appropriate legal actions taken against the culprits.
The protesters maintained that residents of Osun State should be able to approach their polling units, cast their votes freely and return home safely without intimidation or fear of violence.
Osun Guber: Women storm Osogbo streets, protest violence, alleged intimidation