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Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plot to Further Arrest, Detention of Party Leaders
- Safiu Kehinde
The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for the arrest of the Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, over viral video of lawmaker calling for the murder of Accord Party members and their families.
NPO Reported that Fadahunsi had during a meeting with the All Progressives Congress members in Ilesa area of the state charged the APC supporters Ilesa and its environs to kill any member of the Accord Party sighted anywhere they are found ahead of the Saturday August 15 governorship election in the state.
Reacting in an emergency press briefing held on Tuesday evening, Adeleke called on the Inspector-General Police, Olatunji Disu, demanding the arrest of Fadahunsi.
He declared Fadahunsi’s threat as a threat to national security, accusing the lawmaker of inciting genocide in the state.
‘This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat that requires the attention of Mr President through the office of the National Security Adviser.
‘I have raised this issue with the IGP and demanded for the immediate investigation and arrest of Senator Fadahunsi.
‘The IGP has confirmed the video and assured of immediate action.
‘We request that the the IGP should stop the illegal operations of IRT, a team that has been arresting Accord Party leaders across the local governments for no just reason;
‘We ask that the police and the DSS immediately arrest Senator Fadahunsi for his incitement to genocide against the people of Ijesahland and Osun state.’ Adeleke said.
The governor maintained that Fadahunsi’s arrest will prove to the world that Nigeria is governed by the rule of law.
He also requested that the police and other security agencies act in line with the rule of law and the oath of their office in the course of the election.
‘This is to prove to the world that Nigeria is a state governed by the rule of law. We demand that the IGP enforce due process and fair policing by aborting all anti-people plots against democracy in Osun state.
‘We finally request that the police and other security agencies should act in line with the rule of law and their oath of office before, during and after these coming elections.’ Adeleke said.
Prior to his call for Fadahunsi’s arrest, the Osun governor raised alarm over alleged plot of further arrest and detention of Accord Party leaders.
Adeleke disclosed receiving report on plan to arrest and detain the leaders until the end of the election.
‘We have credible reports that a police signal has arrived in Osun directing immediate arrest of Accord Party leaders.
‘We also know the directive includes that they should be taken to Abuja immediately and should not be released until Monday. I have spoken to the Inspector General of Police about the reported directive to arrest Accord Party leaders.
‘But I am appealing to him that this development, if true, is illegal, and presents Nigeria as a lawless country.’ He said.
Adeleke alleged that arresting Accord Party leaders on the eve of an election amounts to police helping and assisting the APC to rig the election.
He charged IGP Disu to address the alleged plot, stressing that the arrest of Accord Party leaders at the eve of election is illegal and threat to democracy.
Adeleke also noted that over 62 leaders of the party are still in police detention without any charges.
‘I task the IGP to issue a statement to assure Nigerians that no order has been given to arrest Accord Party leaders in Osun State.
‘It is illegal and a threat to democracy for Accord Party leaders to be arrested on the eve of an election on trumped up charges.
‘It is disturbing that we still have over 62 Accord Party leaders held in illegal police detention without any charges against them. This is not democracy.’ He said.