By Folarunsho Alagbede
The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), has accused the Nigeria Police and its Inspector General (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun of planning to assassinate the governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke.
The Osun PDP also accused the IGP of attempting to destabilise the state through orchestrated violence.
The Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi, made the allegations during a world press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday.
Bisi claimed that Egbetokun had deployed Police Special Forces to escort miscreants into local government council secretariats in a bid to cause unrest.
The allegation is coming amid the ongoing local government crisis in the state.
“This was nothing but a blatant coup. The move is part of a broader plan to assassinate the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke,” the Osun PDP chairman said.
Bisi further stated that Governor Adeleke had been engaging with the IGP to restore peace after violent clashes erupted on Monday.
The crisis had stemmed from attempts by sacked local government chairmen and councillors of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, to regain control of council secretariats.
In the aftermath of the violence, six persons were confirmed dead by the Osun State Police Command.
Among the dead were Remi Abass, the ousted chairman for Irewole Local Government Area who was killed in Ikire town.
“The whole world must warn and prevail on Mr Kayode Egbetokun to desist from enabling these attempts on the life of our governor.
“The desperation to take over the state through any means possible has been clear since they (APC) lost the election.”
He described the situation as a continuation of the APC’s desperation to reclaim power after being voted out in 2022.
According to Bisi, the PDP has evidence suggesting that APC elements in Osun have been plotting Adeleke’s removal.
The PDP leader questioned why the IGP allegedly bypassed the state governor in responding to the security crisis.
“Why did Egbetokun sidetrack Governor Adeleke before taking a position on the court judgement?” he asked.
He also accused the police boss of violating security protocols and creating an atmosphere of fear.
He claimed that nearly ten people had died in violent confrontations within 48 hours of the unrest.
“The blatant disregard for due process by the IGP is suspicious and dangerous. Rather than reinforcing security to protect lives, Egbetokun’s actions have emboldened troublemakers,” he asserted.
Bisi suggested that the police intervention was designed to disrupt the upcoming local government elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025.
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