19th June, 2023
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has accused the immediate past Senate spokesperson, Dr. Ajibola Bashiru, of invading the state with authorised police operatives with the intention to destabilise its peace.
The allegations were documented in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Executive Governor.
Adeleke, via the statement, alleged that Bashiru is personally coordinating the team in gross violation of extant laws and practice of law enforcement.
The governor called on Inspector General of Police to order the immediate withdrawal of such policemen as their invitation under the control of a politician constitutes a grave threat to the peace and stability of Osun state.
The statement reads: “We urgently bring to the attention of the Inspector General of Police, the State Commissioner of Police and the general public that former Senator Ajibola Bashiru has imported some unauthorized policemen into Osun state to create confusion, mayhem and destabilise the peace and stability of the state.
“The former Senator is reported to have submitted a list of top leaders of the People’s Democratic Party
and Osun state government for arrest on trumped up charges.
“We reliably gathered that the Osogbo born politician is personally coordinating the team in gross violation of extant laws and practice of law enforcement.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police to order the immediate withdrawal of such policemen as their invitation under the control of a politician constitutes a grave threat to the peace and stability of Osun state.
“We urge the Commissioner of Police to urgently look into the matter before a breach of peace across the state.
“We use this medium to inform Osun people that the said Senator is today a direct threat to the peace of the state.
“At a time when the state is witnessing a return to good governance, it is reprehensible for any stakeholder to decide to create mayhem and instability.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke hereby restates his resolve to tackle this matter headlong and ensure that no individual no matter how highly placed is allowed to plunge the state into conflict.”
Responding to the allegations, Bashiru, who represented Osun Central in the 9th Senate, sympathised with the Osun people for allowing incompetent people to ascend to power in the state.
“I don’t believe any serious government or its spokesman will spew such rubbish as a press statement, but in case you confirm that was released by the governor spokesperson, my reaction is that I sympathise with the Osun people for allowing comedians to get close to the Government House in Osogbo.
“They are obviously jittery already that our party will kick out their incompetent government in 2026. Obviously, illiteracy is a disease!” Bashiru said.