0
0
“Selective Policing, Not a Way To Fight Crime”, Accord to Osun Police
0
0
The Osun state chapter of the Accord has rejected the justification of the Osun State Nigeria Police Force Command for continuing to target leaders and members of the party for arrest and incarceration, noting that the Police has abandoned its constitutional role in the state to pander to political interests.
The party in a statement by its Chairman, Victor Akande noted that contrary to the impression that Dsp Abiodun Ojelabi, the Public Relations Officer of the Osun Police Command tried to portray in the response to the genuine concerns of The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) to the politicisation of policing in the state ahead of the governorship election, the Police is not fighting any crime but trying to suppress the democratic rights of Accord leaders and members in the state.
The statement reads, “If, indeed, the raid of the Police was to rid the state of criminals ahead of the election, we wonder why the homes of people like Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, and other elements with link to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to be visited and cleaned of those who posed grave threats to Osun’s security.
“The truth, which is no longer oblivious to the Osun public is that, the Police Command has surrendered itself to political maneuvering, which obviously reflects its selective policing. Instead of picking up violent actors like Asiri Eniba and making him account for his several wrongs, including the alleged involvement in the brutal killing of Damilare Oloyede and Oyebamiji Taiwo in Boripe Local Government in 2025 and which he is now in court for, we are dismayed that the Police provide security cover for him to violently hijack motor parks in line with the APC objectives.
“This is why we strongly disagree with DSP Ojelabi’s assertion unless he is saying being a member of a political party other than the APC is a crime. While the Police target leaders and members of our party for raid, arrest, and incarcerations, those who are the assailants are left untouched, giving strong reason to believe that the Osun Police Command has surrendered its authority to the APC.
“In the instant Ikire case, we remind the public that Mr Taofeeq Akinyemi who was recently arrested by the Police and transferred to the SCID was shot by a notorious APC thug identified as Akinkunmi Alabi, popularly known as Ojuyobo, but he was lucky to survive as he was rushed to the hospital and treated. It is therefore worrisome that the assailant, who not only allegedly possessed firearms illegally but also tried to murder a fellow citizen will be spared but the victim of his violence will be picked up by the Police and whisked away for whatever reason.
“This is not policing and we strongly condemn this partisan overtures by the Police to influence the August 15 governorship poll through intimidation and brutal use of force on Accord leaders and members. We maintain that the Police is a nation institution funded with taxpayers resources and should never become a tool of a political party, in this case the APC, to suppress democratic rights of the people and influence the electoral outcome.
“As a political party, we very much support any effort that will put criminals away so as to guarantee a peaceful and free poll, but we will not accept the subtle attempt by the Police to brand the membership of Accord as being criminal because that is exactly what the statement of DSP Ojelabi suggested. We ask the Police to dust its archives and go after known criminals, most of which are linked to the APC to show the public that it is indeed trying to rid the state of criminals and not making itself a tool of oppression against the Accord.
“We remain committed to a peaceful Osun and ask the Police to honestly review its activities so far, purge itself of political considerations and work for the people paying for their operations by strictly undertaking fair policing. In that breath, we ask that the Osun Police Command immediately begin the process of releasing all political prisoners, particularly Mr. Akinyemi who is still recuperating from bullet wounds inflicted on him by political thugs with links to the APC candidate.”
Click to Join Our WhatsApp Group
Click to Join Our WhatsApp Channel
