Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, during a meeting with top British diplomats, has accused Egbetokun of imposng illegality on local councils in the state.
This followed a forceful takeover of local government secretariats in the state by former APC council chairmen and councillors claiming to be acting based on a court order.
Chairman, Osun State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Sunday Bisi, also alleged at a press conference that Egbetokun had mapped out plans to assassinate Adeleke.
Bisi said the governor’s instruction to restore peace and order, as chief security officer of Osun State, was flagrantly violated.
Adeleke told the British diplomats, led by the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Jonny Baxter, “It is unfortunate and a disservice to democracy that the Inspector General of Police is colluding with the APC to enforce a non-existing court order.
“This is a serious threat to democracy in Nigeria.”
Adeleke, who reaffirmed his readiness for peace, free and fair elections on Saturday, said Osun faces a combined assault of the security forces, who, rather than protect rule of law, were busy aiding and abetting violations of the democratic process.
The governor stated, “You are in my state at a critical juncture in our political life. We face existential threat to our democratic life from those who should protect democracy.
“We have made the best of efforts to guarantee peace on the unfolding local government question. I directed members of the political class to stay away.
“But the opposition, supported by the police, went ahead to break into the local government secretariats. Security men openly supported them to enforce illegality.
“Nonetheless, our local government election is holding on Saturday. Our people are ready for elections. We will not allow democracy to be destroyed.”
Adeleke said, “We call on the diplomatic community to take judicious note of the rape of democracy ongoing in Osun State. We particularly call attention to the negative role of security agents in the crisis. All stakeholders must abide by rule of law in a democracy. There is no room for self help.”
British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter, in his remarks, stressed the importance of democratic processes and the rule of law. Baxter urged all political actors to prioritise peace and dialogue over conflict.
Baxter stated, “Nigeria is a key partner to the UK, and we encourage all stakeholders to uphold democratic values, ensure peaceful governance, and respect legal institutions.
“It is vital that law enforcement remains neutral and that political disputes are resolved through lawful channels.”
Baxter was accompanied by Katherine Fernandes, Second Secretary (Political) and Wale Adebajo, Senior Political Adviser.
The PDP state chairman said, “Osun State has been thrown into the cloudy side of the news in recent days, no thanks to the surreptitious activities of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to destabilise the state with orchestrated violence obviously hatched in active connivance of his office and the opposition All Progressives Congress, banking on a non-existent court order as being brandished by the defeated APC in the state.
“Mr Egbetokun’s deliberate deployment of Special Forces under him to escort some miscreants into the local government councils in the state was nothing but a blatant coup and obviously one out of the many mapped out plans to assassinate the governor of our dear State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, whose instruction to restore peace and order, as the chief security officer of Osun State, was flagrantly violated by Mr Egbetokun.
“We understand that Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has been interfacing with Egbetokun, with the sole aim of ensuring peace after the fatal fracas on Monday, occasioned by forceful attempts by the sacked chairmen and councillors purportedly elected on the platform of opposition APC before the advent of PDP administration in the state.
“The whole world must warn and prevail on Mr Kayode Egbetokun to desist from being an enabler of orchestrated attempts on the life of our governor. This plans, we want to emphasise, have being on the cards of the APC in Osun State, since the good people of Osun State voted them out of office in 2022.”
The party chairman was referring to Oyetola.
