By Monday Ijeh
A group, the World Institute for Peace, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Olatunji Disu, over the rising political violence ahead of the Aug. 15 governorship election in Osun.
The Executive Director of the group, Mr Lamina Omotoyosi, made the petition available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the petition was to ensure a peaceful electoral process in the state, adding that the security threat could degenerate into a state of emergency if decisive action was not taken immediately.
Omotoyosi said a similar petition had been submitted to the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
He said the idea was to ensure that urgent steps were taken to curb the trend and ensure a peaceful process before, during and after the election.
He said the petition followed a fresh wave of politically motivated violence as a result of political rivalry in the state, resulting in the death of several persons in recent months.
“If the current political violence and thuggery rocking Osun is not given the desired attention by security agencies, it will result in anarchy and, by extension, disrupt the electoral process.
“The current political violence in the state is emanating from the attitudes of politicians from various political parties, sponsoring political thuggery in the state,” he said.
He said the group had raised similar concerns in 2023 with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and other security chiefs.
According to him, a similar letter was submitted on Feb. 23, 2023 and what we said then is now replicating itself in Osun with people losing their loved ones to political violence.
He said about 30 lives were lost to political violence in Osun in 2022, adding that the tragedy was already repeating itself ahead of the coming election.
Omotoyosi expressed concern that the killings could trigger a reprisal and further inflame tensions in the state, making a free and fair election nearly impossible.
“There have been cases of violent crimes, resulting in brutal murders of some individuals in recent times, and if allowed to persist, there could be reprisal by those who lost their loved ones.
“We appeal to security agencies to ensure that all unsolved violent crime cases connected to political activity are urgently investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.
“We urge security agencies to put more effort into ensuring that culprits in all politically motivated violence, resulting in murder, kidnapping and terrorism in Osun are brought to justice,” he said.
He appealed to politicians in the state to renounce violence and respect the rule of law in the interest of the state and its residents. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Joseph Edeh