- Safiu Kehinde
Thousands of Osun women have on Monday taken to the street in protest over the spate of killings and pre-election violence ravaging the state ahead of the August 15 governorship poll.
With less than five days before the election, the aggrieved woman staged the demonstration, marching to the Osun Police Command’s Headquarters in Osogbo to express their grievances over the rising political violence in the state.
Videos shared on X showed the women surrounding the police headquarters with placards and cardboards containing different inscriptions.
The protest had since caused traffic gridlock at the capital city as another clip showed large number of women sitting on the road.
It had also drawn the attention of the Police Commissioner deployed to the state ahead of the Osun Election Erale Etaifo, who could be seen addressing the women.
According to reports, the women had petitioned the police, demanding peaceful conduct of a free and fair election.
They expressed deep concern over reported incidents of political violence, arrests and intimidation, as well as what they described as the perceived partisanship of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan.
Carrying placards with messages including “Stop Electoral Violence,” “We Want Ballots, Not Bullets,” “Election Is Not War,” “Vote, Don’t Fight,” and “Let the People Decide, Not Violence,” “Stop the Killings in Osun” 14-year-old child is too small to die” the women called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to remain neutral, professional and committed to the protection of every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation.
As contained in a press statement issued by one of the conveners of the protest simply identified as Mrs. Ayobo, the women particularly condemned every act of violence associated with the electoral process and expressed their grief over the loss of lives allegedly connected to political activities.
They stressed that no election is worth the life of any Nigerian, insisting that political disagreements must never become a justification for killing, intimidation or destruction.
They thereafter highlighted their demands which include that all political parties, candidates and supporters be given equal protection under the law.
While urging security agencies to investigate allegations of violence and unlawful conduct without fear or favour, the protesters also appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations, national and international observers, and other relevant stakeholders to closely monitor the conduct of the election and ensure that the rights of voters are protected.
The demands, as highlighted in the statement, include
‘1. An immediate end to harassment and intimidation of citizens on political grounds.
‘2. Impartial and professional conduct by the police and other security agencies.
‘3. A credible investigation into all reported cases of political violence and killings.
‘4. Equal protection for all political parties, candidates and voters.
‘5. A free, fair, transparent and credible electoral process. 6. Adequate security at polling units and collation centres without political interference.
‘7. Respect for the fundamental rights of citizens to vote according to their conscience.’
The development is coming days after the attack on the All Progressives Congress campaign rally in Ilesa which left several injured with gunshot wounds.
The incident was one of the many reported violent cases which had largely defined the pre-election activities in Osun state.
More details later…