Okpebholo, Ododo, Umahi, Oyetola Rally against Adeleke
•Army warns troops against partisanship
•Arrests of Accord Party leaders question police neutrality
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
As the campaign for the August 15 governorship election in Osun State gathers fresh momentum, Governors Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State; Minister of Works, David Umahi; and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, have urged the people of the state to reject Governor Ademola Adeleke and elect the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.
This is just as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, has directed troops deployed for the governorship election to remain professional, politically neutral and strictly adhere to the Code of Conduct guiding military participation in election security operations.
However, concerns have been raised about the alleged lack of neutrality of the police following the alleged arrests of leaders of Accord Party in the state on the orders of the state Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Gotan.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has again charged Osun voters to defend their votes in the spirit of democracy and the national constitution.
Okpebholo and other APC leaders made appeal in Osogbo during the official flag-off of the construction of the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road and the reconstruction of the Gbongan-Osogbo Road, a major federal infrastructure project initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Oyetola described the APC governorship candidate as a competent, experienced, and visionary leader capable of transforming the state through purposeful governance.
He said Oyebamiji possesses the administrative capacity, political experience, and developmental vision required to reposition the state and align it with the federal government’s renewed infrastructure drive.
According to him, the forthcoming governorship election presents an opportunity for the people of the state to reconnect the state with the centre of national development.
In his remarks, Minister of Works, Umahi, described Oyebamiji as “President Tinubu’s political son,” adding that an APC victory in the state would further strengthen developmental partnerships capable of delivering more roads, improved infrastructure, employment opportunities and economic growth.
Also addressing the gathering, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, called on the electorate to vote massively for the APC, arguing that the achievements of the Tinubu administration in infrastructure development have already begun to manifest across different parts of the country.
In his remarks, Governor Okpebholo also canvassed support for the APC candidate, saying governance requires practical leadership, strategic planning and the ability to deliver meaningful development to the people.
Similarly, Governor Ododo encouraged the electorate to support the APC to consolidate President Tinubu’s developmental agenda.
Army Warns Troops against Partisanship
The GOC gave the warning while addressing officers and soldiers deployed to support election security operations at the Engineer Construction Command (ECC) in Ede, Osun State.
Mahmuda reminded the troops that their deployment was in line with the Nigerian Army’s constitutional responsibility to provide aid to civil authorities when necessary.
He explained that the operation, codenamed Operation SAFE CONDUCT, was designed to support the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), which remains the lead agency responsible for election security in Nigeria.
According to him, soldiers are expected to provide only outer-cordon security and should intervene strictly when requested to respond to security threats.
He warned the troops to stay away from polling units except where their intervention becomes necessary in line with operational directives.
The GOC said the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, expects all personnel participating in the operation to demonstrate discipline, professionalism and absolute neutrality throughout the electoral process.
He cautioned the troops against political partisanship, intimidation of voters or any conduct capable of undermining the credibility of the election.
Mahmuda stressed that the troops must conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the core values of the Nigerian Army, urging them to avoid harassing members of the public while carrying out their duties.
Arrests of Accord Party Leaders Question Police Neutrality
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about the alleged lack of neutrality of the police following the arrests of leaders of the Accord Party in the state on the orders of the state Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Gotan.
The spokesman of the Imole Campaign Council working for the reelection of Governor Adeleke, Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, yesterday decried the arrests of the state Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon. Mayowa Adejoorin, and 60 Accord members across the state, including Ijesaland, by the Osun State Police Command.
He said the action was meant to silence Accord leaders and compromise the August 15 governorship election.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, he called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu, to urgently intervene in the situation in Osun State.
He also drew the attention of Nigerians, the international community and the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force to the disturbing and increasingly dangerous pattern of arrests, intimidation and incessant abduction of leaders and members of the Accord Party, particularly across Ijesaland.
According to him, “The latest victim of this alarming pattern is the state Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon Mayowa Adejoorin, a prominent native of Ikiyinwa in Obokun Local Government Area of the state. ”
Olajengbesi added that the manner of his arrest was particularly disturbing.
He said, “We consider what happened to Hon Adejoorin nothing short of a bandit-line abduction carried out under the cover of police authority.”
“For some time now, we have witnessed a disturbing pattern in which prominent Accord leaders and supporters in Ijesaland are picked up by the Police on allegations that are apparently motivated by sinister political calculations, kept away from their families, communities and campaign activities, and thereby removed from circulation at a critical period of the electoral process.”
In a separate statement issued and made available by the Chairman, Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the council, Hon. Bamidele Sallam, the campaign council, specifically accused CP Gotan of defying the directive of the IG that all police officers should be non-partisan.
The campaign council alleged that since the arrival of the new police Commissioner in charge of the election, the substantive CP, Gotan, has been running a parallel police structure which he has deployed alongside APC thugs to molest Accord Party leaders.
Defend Your Votes, Adeleke Charges Residents
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has again charged Osun voters to vote and defend their votes in the spirit of democracy and the national constitution.
He gave the admonition at the palaces of monarchs of Ipetu-Ijesha and Ijebu Ijesha as he rallied support for re-election alongside his cousin, David Adeleke a.k.a Davido, at a massively attended rally at Ijebujesha.
Accompanied by top leaders of the Imole Campaign Council, the governor tasked Osun voters to demonstrate boldness and determination to exercise their voting rights as guaranteed by the constitution, declaring that “no force can deny Osun voters their democratic rights”
Re-echoing Davido, who also challenged Osun residents to vote and defend their votes, the governor said free and fair elections are the inalienable rights of Osun people and “they are ready to protect and affirm those rights on August 15th.”
At the palace of Ajalaye of Ipetujesa, Oba Adeleke Oke, the monarch eulogised the governor for his extraordinary performance in the last four years, assuring the Accord team of total support of his people on August 15.
The royal father of Ijebu-Jesa, while welcoming the governor, hosted a victory prayer session in which interfaith activities in support of Accord’s triumph over opposition forces were held.
“You will win the second term, and you will deliver even more than you have done in your first term. My people are eager to continue to be part of a good turn of events in the state,” the royal father submitted.
At electrifying campaign rallies in Ipetu-Ijesha and Ijebu-Jesa, Governor Adeleke declared that victory was at hand and urged the people to intensify mobilisation for continuity.
“Your security is assured. Your safety is guaranteed. Mobilise your relatives and friends. Vote for good governance and more dividends of democracy.
“Ijesa people, Osun people cannot be scared. We are people of courage. Vote and defend your votes,” the governor told a mammoth crowd of supporters at both Ipetu-Ijesha and Ijebu-Jesa.
Police Confirms Arrest of Osun Commissioner
The Osun State Police Command yesterday confirmed the arrest of Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Mayowa Adejoorin over a shooting incident.
Speaking to journalists through its spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, it said the commissioner was arrested in connection with the disruption of a political rally in Ilesa.
He stressed: “Immediately the incident was reported, our personnel moved to the scene, cordoned off the area before some exhibits were recovered which included expanded cartridges, Amotekun personnel caps.
“Also, Adejoorin was arrested at the scene and has been taken to the command for questioning as part of the investigation process,” he added.