By Adewole Kehinde
“Boldness doesn’t mean rude, obnoxious, loud, or disrespectful. Being bold is being firm, sure, confident, fearless, daring, strong, resilient, and not easily intimidated. It means you’re willing to go where you’ve never been, willing to try what you’ve never tried, and willing to trust what you’ve never trusted. Boldness is quiet, not noisy.” – Mike Yaconelli
The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday accused the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, of planning to assassinate the governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke.
An IGP to assassinate a sitting governor, to me, sounds unreasonable, meaningless, and irrational.
I am more particular about what is happening in Osun State because that is my state of origin.
How on earth can the Osun PDP stoop so low as to accuse the Inspector General of Police of attempting to destabilise the state through orchestrated violence? The question keeps ringing in my head.
Watching the Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, make the allegations during a world press conference in Osogbo on Wednesday got me irritated.
First of all, the Nigeria Police is an impartial force dedicated to upholding law and order in Osun State and all other states of the Federation.
The Osun State PDP Chapter’s terrible theatre and foul play are quite absurd. First, the State PDP Chapter filed a lawsuit and won a ruling calling for the dismissal of the state’s APC chairs. In accordance with the law, the APC chairman resigned their positions amicably and filed an appeal with a higher court.
The APC chairmen, however, returned to their duties after the higher court granted their appeal and overturned the lower court’s decision. The PDP faction, regrettably, was unable to demonstrate the same maturity and adherence to the law as the APC and instead turned to violence, which killed APC members but not PDP members. Who becomes lawless? Which party used violence—the APC or the other party—and followed the law?
The deployment of police personnel to Osun State, as with any other state, is solely to ensure the safety and security of citizens and prevent the breakdown of law and order. Any insinuation that these deployments are politically motivated or intended to interfere with local government affairs is a gross misrepresentation of facts.
It is disheartening to see that the Peoples Democratic Party would resort to these unfounded assertions and dangerous accusations to try and divert attention from their atrocities and shameful conduct. Saying that the Inspector General of Police would connive with some persons to assassinate a sitting governor, is that even reasonable at all?
I expected the Osun State Peoples Democratic Party to approach the Supreme Court, the highest court of the land, to settle the dispute rather than self-help that resulted in the killings of six persons as confirmed by the Osun State Police Command. Among the dead were Remi Abass, the ousted chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, who was killed in Ikire town.
I will join the Inspector General of Police in saying that the statement from the Osun State Peoples Democratic Party and that of Gov. Ademola Adeleke is reckless and doesn’t deserve further comment from a focused and goal-getting IGP.
IGP Egbetokun must go after those responsible for the unnecessary violence that resulted in the loss of lives in Osun State irrespective of party affiliation. The Nigeria police must protect the lives and property of every Nigerian.
To protect democratic values and the rule of law, political actors must respect and adhere to the court, which serves as the last arbiter in all election disputes.
On a final note, Egbetokun shouldn’t react to the absurdity coming from the “dancing” governor of Osun State.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. 08166240846. kennyadewole@gmail.com @kennyadewole
