Ajayi Rogba’s Death: Don’t Turn Tragedy Into Political Ammunition, Oke’s Aide Warns Olajengbesi

The media aide to the Director-General of the Osun State Governorship Campaign Council, Hon. Oluwole Oke, Mr. Omolebi-Sunday Segun Tunde, has faulted what he described as attempts to politicise the death of Ajayi Rogba, warning that grief must not be turned into a weapon for reckless political accusations.

Tunde, who spoke on behalf of Oke, said: “At a moment like this, humanity must come before politics. The life lost cannot be replaced, and it is only proper that we all approach this situation with sincerity, restraint and respect for the truth.”

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the aide expressed shock and sadness over the death of Rogba, describing him as a young man in his prime, while extending condolences to his family, friends and the Esa Oke community.

He, however, accused Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi of making hasty, unverified and inflammatory allegations against Oke and the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the incident.

According to him, no credible investigation or security report has linked Oke or the APC to the death, insisting that attempts to draw such conclusions were premature and irresponsible.

“Available information within the community suggests that the incident may be connected to internal clashes among rival groups, a matter which security agencies are already better positioned to investigate,” Tunde said.

He urged the Nigeria Police and other relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation to determine the true circumstances surrounding the death.

The media aide said while Olajengbesi may be emotionally affected by the incident, leadership demanded responsibility, especially at a time of crisis.

He said: “Grief must not be weaponised into reckless accusations. Making direct allegations against individuals and political parties without evidence only heightens tension and misleads the public.”

Tunde further said it was contradictory for Olajengbesi to claim close association with the deceased while appearing unaware of concerns allegedly raised about his background within the community.

He maintained that regardless of any past allegations or character issues surrounding the deceased, every life remained valuable and should not be exploited for political sensationalism.

The aide stated that Oke and the APC had no connection whatsoever to Rogba’s death, describing attempts to link them to the incident without proof as false, misleading and unacceptable.

He added that as a legal practitioner, Olajengbesi should understand the importance of facts, evidence and due process rather than speculation.

Tunde urged all parties to exercise restraint and allow security agencies to carry out their duties professionally, stressing that matters of life and death must never be trivialised for political gain.

He called on residents and political actors in Osun State to embrace peace, truth and lawful engagement, saying the memory of the deceased should be honoured through the pursuit of justice rather than the spread of unverified claims.