Governor Ademola Adeleke on Wednesday visited Esa-Oke to condole with the family over the killing of an Accord youth leader, Aderogba, by APC thugs, calling out the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan over inaction on spate of political killings and attacks in Osun.
The governor was received by the family of the deceased and the Accord members and leaders across Obokun/Oriade federal constituencies.
Narrating how her husband was killed, the wife of Aderogba, Tolulope, directly linked the killing to the personal assistant of Hon. Wole Oke named Omo Aje, explaining that the town youth leader, Fakunle Oladapo was on phone with Oke’s PA before the arrival of the killers at the spot.
The wife also named six known APC thugs who were present around the area of the killing, announcing that the murder of her husband took place in her presence and that of her son.
Mrs Aderogba told the governor and the visiting team that Fakunle Oladapo told the deceased that Omo Aje wanted him to come and see Hon. Oke, an invitation which she said the deceased declined, vowing never to leave Accord or work with Wole Oke again.
The wife narrated that Fakunle Oladapo was still pressing her husband to honour Wole Oke’s invitation when the Sienna Bus conveying the killers arrived in the area, adding that the same youth leader persuaded her husband not to leave the scene amidst the looming danger.
“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 wife narrated.
The governor in his address appealed to traditional rulers in Osun to condemn the spate of killings of innocent residents for political purposes.
“The Commissioner of Police has refused to act on several attacks, therefore, I have sent videos and several reports of such 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, etc 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 our democratic rights. They will not die in vain. As Osun APC and their thugs are shedding the blood of the innocents, that party will not rise again in Osun state. The blood of those killed will haunt the killers.
“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. I have been prevailing on my members not to resort to self-help, we wait on those with a 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.
Addressing the families of the victims, the governor promised to provide state support for the children and the immediate families of the deceased, calling the incident “one killing, too many” and urging a peaceful campaign ahead of August 15.
The killing has been reported at the Divisional police headquarters, Esa Oke.
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