Blood in Esa-Oke: Adeleke Fingers Wole Oke’s Aide, APC Thugs in Accord Leader’s Killing

…demands removal of Osun CP over alleged inaction

 

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has accused leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of allegedly breeding political thugs, following the killing of an Accord youth leader in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased, identified as Aderogba, was allegedly murdered by suspected political thugs in the presence of his wife and son.

Adeleke, who visited Esa-Oke on Tuesday to commiserate with the family of the deceased, also called on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, to immediately reshuffle the Osun State Police Command over what he described as the alleged refusal of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to arrest known suspects linked to political violence in the state.

The governor was received by members of the bereaved family as well as Accord leaders and supporters from across the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency.

Speaking during the visit, the wife of the deceased, Mrs Tolulope Aderogba, alleged that her husband’s killing was linked to a personal assistant to the lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Hon. Wole Oke, identified as Omo Aje.

She further alleged that a youth leader in the town, Fakunle Oladapo, was on the telephone with the said aide shortly before the arrival of the assailants.

According to her, Oladapo had allegedly urged her husband to honour an invitation to meet with Oke, an offer she said the deceased rejected after insisting that he would not leave Accord or work with the lawmaker again.

Mrs Aderogba alleged that while Oladapo was still persuading her husband to accept the invitation, a Sienna bus conveying the attackers arrived at the scene.

She said: “My husband was shot by men in black suits. When the bullet did not penetrate, Oladapo Fakunle removed the bag on my husband’s neck and the men in suits then fired another round of shots which hit him, alongside machete attacks and others.

“He died before we reached the hospital. Fakunle Oladapo then fled Esa-Oke.”

The widow also alleged that six persons, whom she described as known APC thugs, were around the scene of the incident.

Reacting, Governor Adeleke urged traditional rulers and community leaders in the state to speak out against what he described as politically motivated killings and attacks.

He said: “The Commissioner of Police has refused to act on several attacks. I have sent videos and several reports of frequent gun attacks and killings to the Inspector-General of Police. Osun people demand answers.

“I have reached out to the Presidency on the orchestrated violence against my people. Osun APC leaders like Wole Oke, Oyetola, Oyebamiji and others are breeding thugs that are fomenting violence instead of seeking the votes of the people.

“Osun people will avenge the killings through the ballots. Our fallen members are heroes of our struggle for democratic rights. They will not die in vain.

“As Osun APC and their thugs are shedding the blood of innocent people, that party will not rise again in Osun State. The blood of those killed will haunt the killers.”

Adeleke said his administration had continued to exercise restraint despite alleged attacks on members of Accord, adding that security agencies must be allowed to carry out their constitutional responsibilities.

“Osun Accord has the capacity to defend and protect our members. We are not cowards, but we are waiting on security agencies to do their lawful duties,” he said.

“I have been prevailing on my members not to resort to self-help. We are waiting on those with the constitutional mandate of law enforcement to act.

“The patience of our people is growing thin. That is why I am once again calling on the Inspector-General of Police to reshuffle the Osun Police Command structure.

“That is why we have called detailed attention to the almost deliberate refusal of the police commissioner to arrest known suspects and political thugs.”

The governor also appealed to political leaders and traditional rulers in the state to condemn the alleged killings and acts of violence, warning that the state could not afford a breakdown of peace ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

He urged residents to remain calm and resist any attempt by political actors to provoke violence, saying the electorate would determine the future of the state through the ballot.

Adeleke said the state government would provide support for the children and immediate family of the deceased.

He described the incident as “one killing too many,” pledging that the government would not abandon the family of the slain Accord youth leader.

The killing, according to the state government, has been reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Esa-Oke.

The governor was accompanied on the condolence visit by top government functionaries and other state officials.