TICC demands state honours for supporters killed in Osun election violence
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –
The Imole Campaign Council (TICC) has called for state honours for victims of election-related violence in Osun State, alleging that several members of the Accord Party and supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke were killed, injured, abducted or detained because of their political affiliation ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the council said those who paid the “supreme price” in support of the governor’s re-election deserved official recognition from the state government.
He said no recognition could adequately compensate for the sacrifices made by the victims but insisted that state honours would acknowledge their commitment.
“Although no recognition or compensation can measure up to the level of sacrifice made by the victims of APC-sponsored attacks, the Imole Campaign Council finds it imperative that persons who have made different kinds of sacrifices, including paying the supreme price, while demonstrating their support for the governor’s re-election, be accorded state honours. Their sacrifices are not in vain,” Olajengbesi said.
The council also alleged that more than 100 campaigners supporting Governor Adeleke had been persecuted and arbitrarily detained by the police in recent weeks in an attempt to weaken grassroots mobilisation ahead of the election.
It claimed that Kolade Eluyera, Ezekiel Olapade, Ajayi Rogba and Timilehin Oni were among those killed in separate incidents, while several others, including Asimiyu Ajibola, Samuel Saliu, Taofeek Saka, Lawal Habeeb, Adeyemi Toheeb, Monday Fidelis, Ramoni Kamolideen, Kamar Aola and John Matthew, were allegedly shot or injured because of their support for Adeleke’s re-election.
The council condemned what it described as the assassination, persecution and intimidation of Accord Party members across the state.
It also urged the police to remain neutral and professional, accusing the force of being used by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to target political opponents.
