Osun APC faults Adeleke over comments during visit to slain teenager’s family

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke over remarks he reportedly made during a condolence visit to the family of 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade, who was recently killed in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Director of Media and Information, Mogaji Kola Olabisi, the APC said the governor turned a visit meant to console the bereaved family into a platform for political campaigning ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The party quoted the governor as saying: “We are not afraid as we remain resolute in our re-election bid. We are a courageous people; we cannot be silenced. We hold our heads high as we seek the support of our people. We will vote and, by God’s grace, I shall be re-elected,” describing the comment as inappropriate given the circumstances surrounding the visit.

He said, “Such an occasion for mourning the young boy was inappropriate for Governor Adeleke to have turned it into a campaign ground, as it could be likened to the state chief executive doing the wrong thing at the wrong time and in the wrong place, which is the reason he has been getting so many things wrong since the inception of his administration”.

The APC argued that a condolence visit should have been devoted solely to mourning and sympathising with the family of the deceased, rather than discussions relating to the forthcoming election.

“It was absurd that the chief executive, having blood flowing in his veins and knowing his administrative responsibilities, could consider it wise and appropriate to have turned the condolence visit of a fallen teenager into a campaign ground,” Olabisi stated.

He also faulted the governor for linking the opposition to the killing before the conclusion of police investigations, questioning why he would make such claims ahead of the outcome of the inquiry.

The APC urged the governor to focus on governance and ensure the constitutional protection of lives and property in the state.