…Accuses IGP of Taking Sides
The Osun State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Bisi Sunday, has accused the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, of gross impartiality in the ongoing political crisis in the state, alleging a sinister plot to unlawfully arrest and eliminate members of the ruling party.
Addressing a world press conference at the PDP secretariat in Osogbo, the state capital, Sunday claimed that the recent deployment of armed policemen to Osun by the IGP was a ploy to instigate violence and provide cover for attacks against law-abiding PDP members.
He further alleged that no fewer than 10 PDP members had been killed within the past 48 hours, creating widespread panic among residents.
IGP Accused of Destabilising Osun
“We are all aware that Osun State has been thrown into a troubling situation in recent days, thanks to the surreptitious activities of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who appears to be working in active connivance with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilise the state through orchestrated violence.
“Banking on a non-existent court order being brandished by the defeated APC, Egbetokun has deliberately deployed special police forces to escort miscreants into local government councils across the state. This brazen act is nothing short of a coup and one of the many plots to assassinate the Governor of our dear state, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke.
“The governor, as the Chief Security Officer of Osun, had issued directives to restore peace and order, but these were flagrantly disregarded by the IGP,” Sunday stated.
According to him, Governor Adeleke had engaged with the IGP in an effort to maintain peace following Monday’s fatal clash, which was triggered by the forceful attempts of sacked local government chairmen and councillors—purportedly elected under the APC before the PDP came into power—to reclaim their positions.
“The world must take note of these developments and hold IGP Egbetokun responsible should anything untoward happen to our governor,” Sunday warned.
IGP’s Actions Raise Suspicion
He questioned why the IGP allegedly bypassed the state governor before taking a stance on the disputed local government administration matter.
“The stark disregard for protocol and due process by Egbetokun, particularly in relation to security matters in Osun, is not only suspicious but also extremely dangerous.
“The IGP was well aware of discussions held with the governor regarding any necessary security reinforcements. Instead, he has betrayed that agreement and opened the floodgates for troublemakers, even as Osun mourns the loss of almost 10 citizens in violent confrontations in less than 48 hours,” he stated.
Sunday alleged that the real motive behind the ongoing security crisis was to prevent the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, 22 February 2025.
“We know that Egbetokun and his APC allies are determined to disrupt the election. He is willing to bend the rules, facilitate killings, and target PDP members, as we witnessed on Monday. But let it be clear—he will fail,” he declared.
PDP Vows to Resist Intimidation
The PDP chairman asserted that Osun State would not be cowed into submission, even if the crisis was part of the rationale for extending Egbetokun’s tenure.
“We commend the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) for adhering to legal and constitutional provisions in its preparations for the upcoming elections. The APC, unable to fault the process, has resorted to lawlessness in a bid to sabotage the election,” he said.
He urged Osun voters not to succumb to intimidation by APC and security agencies, stressing that the election would hold as scheduled.
Referring to the Federal High Court judgment of 30 November 2022 in suit No. FHC/OS/CS/103/2022, which was upheld by the Appeal Court, Sunday insisted that there were 30 vacant local government positions in Osun as recognised by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He dismissed the APC’s claim to 69 councils based on the “Yes or No” election it conducted on 15 October 2022, which had been invalidated by the courts.
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