As political tensions rise ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election, Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have exchanged accusations over the governor’s call for the United Kingdom to impose visa restrictions and economic sanctions on key opposition figures.
Adeleke urged a visiting UK delegation, led by Senior Political Adviser Wale Adebajo, to consider sanctions against the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, Senator Francis Fadahunsi and other APC leaders, alleging they were promoting political violence through their supporters.
The British delegation was in Osun to engage political stakeholders on promoting peace ahead of the August 15 governorship poll.
A statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said the governor blamed recent killings and gun attacks in the state on individuals linked to the opposition, while urging security agencies to arrest anyone found culpable regardless of political affiliation.
“I have zero tolerance for violence. I have told the Inspector General of Police that if my son is involved, he should be arrested. We harbour no thugs anywhere and the police can and should arrest any suspect. There must be strict law enforcement,” Adeleke said.
The governor also commended security agencies for intervening to curb violence in the state.
APC rejects allegations
The Osun APC dismissed Adeleke’s allegations, accusing the governor of misleading the British delegation.
The party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, described Adeleke as the real promoter of political violence and urged the UK to disregard the request for sanctions.
Olabisi questioned whether any court or commission of inquiry had found APC leaders guilty of sponsoring violence.
He further alleged that the governor had frustrated police investigations by harbouring suspected political thugs in Government House and referenced the ongoing trial of some of Adeleke’s aides over the killing of APC chieftain and former Irewole Local Government Chairman, Remi Abass.
Oyebamiji dismisses visa ban request
At a separate meeting with the UK delegation in Osogbo, APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji also rejected Adeleke’s appeal for visa restrictions.
He described reports of calls for foreign governments to deny APC leaders visas as “entirely unfounded” and “the joke of the century.”
Oyebamiji argued that if any political party had grounds to seek such action, it would be the APC.
The meeting was attended by APC campaign officials, including Campaign Council Director-General Wole Oke, former Speaker Timothy Owoeye, Sunday Akere and other party leaders.
During the engagement, the APC presented video clips said to show alleged victims of political violence, including the late Remi Abass, as well as footage it claimed showed murder suspects being harboured in Government House. These allegations remain disputed.
UK reiterates peace mission
Speaking after the meetings, Wale Adebajo said the British delegation’s visit was aimed at consulting key stakeholders and encouraging peaceful conduct before the governorship election.
He reiterated that the engagement was intended to help create a peaceful environment that would allow voters to participate freely in the August 15 poll.
