No sacred cows in fight against political violence, Adeleke tells IGP

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Friday told the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, that there should be no sacred cows in the fight against political violence, declaring that anyone found culpable, including members of his political party or his son, should be arrested and prosecuted.

The governor made the declaration while receiving the IGP, who visited the state over the recent political violence. He also urged the police to remain neutral in enforcing the law.

Adeleke accused the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, of partisanship, alleging that he had become “a tool of the All Progressives Congress (APC) propaganda” and was deliberately spreading falsehood.

The governor said, “If my son or any member of my political party is involved in killings and gun attacks in Osun, the police should arrest him. We don’t support or harbour violence”.

Adeleke commended the intervention of President Bola Tinubu and the IGP, saying their efforts had helped save the state from bloodshed.

He urged IGP Disu to caution the state police command against partisanship and ensure fair policing, saying, “There are many unresolved murders and gun attacks. Political thugs parade towns shooting sporadically. There are too many light weapons in circulation. The state police command should act”.

According to the IGP, he had received several reports of accusations and counter-accusations from both sides of the political divide and had directed the immediate arrest and prosecution of political thugs and sponsors of violence.

Disu assured the governor that the police would ensure fair policing without fear or favour and warned political actors to stop promoting thuggery and violence.