Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the escalating political tension in the state, warning that the situation could deteriorate if urgent steps are not taken.
In a statement shared on his official social media page on Monday after addressing supporters at a campaign rally in Olorunda Local Government Area, Adeleke alleged that the state was experiencing increasing political violence and called on the President to ensure peace prevails.
The governor specifically urged Tinubu not to allow the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, to fuel actions that could destabilise the state.
According to Adeleke, the reported loss of innocent lives linked to political violence has become a major concern, stressing that the people of Osun deserve a peaceful atmosphere and a credible electoral process.
“At the campaign rally today in Olorunda Local Government Area, I appealed directly to Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Osun is bleeding, and our people will not be intimidated. His intervention is needed. The loss of innocent lives in Osun must stop. All we are asking for is simply a free and fair election,” Adeleke said.
The governor called on the President to act as the leader of the nation by protecting Nigeria’s democratic values, recalling Tinubu’s role in the country’s pro-democracy struggle.
He argued that with the 2027 general elections approaching, the President should ensure that his administration is not linked to actions capable of undermining democracy in Osun State.
“Mr President must act as the father of this nation and help safeguard the democracy he fought for. I reminded the President that the 2027 general elections are also around the corner, and he should not allow his nephew, Mr. Oyetola, the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, to ruin his name and the democracy he fought along with many others,” he stated.
Adeleke also cautioned against a return to the political violence that marked the 1983 crisis, particularly in the South-West, saying such events should never be repeated.
“It is our collective prayer that, as a country, we may never witness such incidents as the political violence of 1983, particularly in the South-West. Democracy works when the people freely choose their leaders, a demand that is not too much for the citizens of Osun State to make,” the governor added.
He maintained that his appeal was intended to preserve peace in the state and protect the right of Osun residents to freely choose their leaders through a credible democratic process.
