Gunmen kill Osun Accord Party women leader’s son

The Imole Campaign Council, leading the re-election bid of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Saturday demanded a probe into the killing of Kolade Eluyera, said to be the son of the Irewole Accord Party Women Leader.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that a lifeless body was recovered in Ikire, noting that gunshot wounds were found on the deceased.

“Investigation is on and the Commissioner of Police has deployed more men to the area. We are working with those who brought the corpse to get more information,” Ojelabi said.

However, the spokesperson for the campaign council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, in a statement obtained by The PUNCH, alleged that the attack was carried out late on Friday near Onireke Mosque, Ikire, by suspected thugs working for the All Progressives Congress.

The allegation was dismissed by the co-chairman (Print), Media and Publicity Committee of the Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji Governorship Election Campaign Council, Kola Olabisi, who said the police should be allowed to investigate and identify those responsible.

Olajengbesi, however, insisted that the incident occurred “after several complaints, security reports, and intelligence alerts had earlier been lodged at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ikire and the Office of the Area Commander concerning alleged kidnapping, abduction, violent intimidation, harassment, and coordinated attacks targeted at members of the Accord Party in Irewole Local Government, yet no visible, preventive, or decisive law enforcement action was taken to forestall the escalation of violence now culminating in the unfortunate loss of human life.

“What is unfolding in Osun State is becoming dangerously alarming, condemnable, and a direct threat to constitutional democracy, public peace, and political freedom,” he said.

He condoled the family of the deceased, the leadership of the Accord Party, and others affected by the incident.

Alleging continued silence and slow response from security agencies despite repeated reports of politically motivated violence, Olajengbesi said the situation was raising “serious legal, moral, and security concerns among residents, political stakeholders, and the wider public.”

The statement further read, “We understand that the growing frustration within the Osun APC stems largely from the overwhelming rejection the party continues to suffer among the people of Osun State, having failed completely to present any convincing alternative programme, credible policy direction, or meaningful governance blueprint capable of inspiring public confidence.

“The people of Osun State have continued to openly identify with and support the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke because of its visible performance and people-oriented governance.”

He called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services and other security agencies to commence an independent investigation into the killing.

Reacting, Olabisi urged the Accord Party not to politicise the incident.

“It is uncharitable, wicked and inhuman of the campaign committee wing of the re-election bid of Governor Ademola Adeleke to willingly embark on the threatening of the security of the state out of its desperation to sell their difficult candidate who has recorded abysmal failure in its close to four years in office.

“This deliberate act of misinformation to feed the innocent people of the state with falsehoods in order to gain unmerited political advantage by the failed administration of Governor Adeleke is now shaking the peace of the state to its foundation.

“Loading of the death of a young man, one Eluyera Kolade, an alleged son of the Accord Party women leader, in the Irewole Local Government Council Area of Osun State, on some members of our party by the Adeleke re-election campaign council was frivolous, fabricated and a ploy to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it as violence and brigandage have not been the hallmark of the APC at all its levels,” Olabisi said.

He added that the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, “remains a perfect gentleman who cannot hurt a fly,” and said allegations against the party were unfounded.