Osun Guber: “Watch Us Closely” — Speaker Egbedun Appeals To International Community

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, has called on the international community to closely monitor developments in the state ahead of the governorship election, amid allegations of attacks, intimidation and threats against citizens and political actors.

Egbedun, in an address on Friday, urged diplomatic missions, international human rights organisations, election observers and civil society groups to pay close attention to developments in Osun State and independently document any alleged violations of citizens’ rights.

He said, “We ask the world to watch Osun State closely. We ask our security agencies to act professionally and impartially.”

The Speaker said he was particularly concerned about reports of alleged attacks and intimidation in Odo Otin Local Government Area in the past 48 hours, calling for immediate, independent and transparent investigations by relevant authorities.

According to him, there had been reports alleging that armed military personnel deployed to Odo Otin Local Government had been moving through communities and targeting political actors.

“These actions must not be dismissed or politicised. They require immediate, independent and transparent investigation by the appropriate authorities,” he said.

Egbedun also raised concerns over an alleged attack on the residence of an elderly woman, Alhaja Popoola Kuburat Ijadunola, popularly known as Mama Mi Leko, whom he identified as an elder sister of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

He alleged that the residence was invaded and two of her children taken away.

He further cited reported attacks involving Ayanyemi Joshua Olawale, Fasola Femi and Ajimoti Rasheed Omotayo, alleging that gunshots were fired during the incidents and that Ajimoti’s dog was killed.

The Speaker said such incidents, if established, should concern every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation.

“No Nigerian citizen, regardless of political affiliation, age, social standing or location, should live in fear of armed personnel or believe that his or her home can be invaded with impunity,” he said.

Egbedun also expressed concern over the alleged release of three armed men who, according to him, had confessed to working for Francis Eniade, an APC House of Representatives candidate.

He said the suspects were arrested with two pump-action firearms during an incident in Okuku and were personally handed over to the Director of the Department of State Services for further investigation.

“I am further informed that the suspects have subsequently been released,” he said, adding that he was also concerned about what he described as an attempt to intimidate him from making public a video containing their alleged confessional statements.

“These are serious matters that deserve institutional scrutiny rather than secrecy,” Egbedun said.

The Speaker said he would not be intimidated from demanding that the allegations be properly investigated.

“I cannot be intimidated for demanding for the truth to be established. If anyone has committed an offence, let that person face the law,” he said.

He called on the Federal Government, the Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and other relevant authorities to immediately investigate the allegations and make their findings public.

Egbedun also urged the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations, election observers, diplomatic missions and credible international human-rights institutions to monitor developments in the state.

His appeal, he stressed, was not for foreign bodies to take sides with any political party but to support truth, human rights, constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

“Our appeal is not for the international community to take sides with any political party. Our appeal is for the international community to stand on the side of truth, human rights, constitutional democracy and the rule of law,” he said.

Egbedun warned that democracy could not thrive where citizens were intimidated into silence, stressing that elections could only be free when political actors and voters were protected from attacks, arbitrary arrests and alleged partisan use of security agencies.

“Democracy must not be allowed to become a casualty of political ambition,” he said.