- Seeks Intervention of Global Community
The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, has raised concerns over the alleged attacks, intimidation and threats against members of the Accord Party in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state.
Egbedun, who spoke at a news conference in Osogbo on Friday, described the incidents reported in the last 48 hours as troubling and called for an immediate and transparent investigation.
He said the allegations should not be dismissed or politicised, stressing that the appropriate authorities must investigate the incidents independently.
The Speaker particularly cited an alleged attack on the residence of an elderly woman whom he described as an elder sister to former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, claiming that two of her children were taken away.
According to him, no citizen should be subjected to fear or intimidation because of their political affiliation, age or social status.
“Democracy cannot survive where citizens are intimidated into silence.
“Elections cannot be free where political actors fear attacks, arbitrary arrests or the use of security agencies for partisan purposes.
“The security agencies must protect all citizens equally, irrespective of political affiliations,” he said.
Egbedun called on the Federal Government, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and other relevant authorities to investigate the allegations and make their findings public.
He also urged the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations, election observers, diplomatic missions and credible international human rights organisations to monitor developments in the state.
The Speaker further appealed to the international community not to wait until violence escalates before intervening.
He said the appeal was not for foreign bodies to support any political party, but to uphold human rights, constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
“The protection of democracy begins with the protection of the ordinary citizen — the voter, the community leader, the political worker, the elderly woman and every Nigerian who has the constitutional right to live without fear.
“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.