22nd February, 2022
By Victor Adeoti
Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) has warned political gladiators not to turn the state into a battleground.
OCSC Vice-Chairman, Mr Wole Folaranmi, at a news conference in Osogbo on Tuesday, lamented the rate of political violence in the state, saying it was alarming.
Folaranmi said a situation where the use of hoodlums with dangerous weapons had become the order of the day was worrisome and called for concern from all residents of the state.
“We observe that our core politicians have brazenly been banking on the support of thugs and criminal elements for their political activities.
“This is a dangerous trend; it is already posing threat to our lives and property.”
The spate of political violence in the state is alarming, and we condemn anybody and everybody connected with this.
“We state categorically that Osun is no longer a safe state that it used to be. There is a growing trend of insecurity, with side attraction of political violence.
“Cultists and hoodlums have been terrorizing Ilesa and Ede consistently. Just yesterday (Monday), it was reported that 10 people were killed in fresh cult clash in Ilesa,’’ he said.
The vice-chairman said it was hearth-breaking that Osogbo, the state capital, had now become an abode for cultists and thugs.
“Security agencies should please act fast to restore the lost glory of Osun as one of the safest states in Nigeria.
“We specifically call on the Commissioner of Police to rise up to the core duty of policing”, he said.
Folaranmi, however, denied the rumour making the round that the coalition had written a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari on the political violence in the state and the recent gun duel among some suspected thugs.
He said that the group of people, who addressed a news conference, using the name of the coalition, was not part of the coalition.
“Osun Civil Societies Coalition does not know anything about the press conference and the petition sent to the president.
“We state categorically that all the people and organizations listed as signatories to the petition are not members of OCSC.
“We, therefore, dissociate ourselves from the press conference and the said petition”, Folaranmi added.