OSOGBO – A legal practitioner and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Princess Adesola Ajiboye-Omotowo, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the alleged spate of political violence in Osun State and ensure the protection of APC members and other residents.
Ajiboye-Omotowo, in an open letter addressed to the President, expressed concern over reports of alleged killings of APC members in Ilesa and other incidents of political violence, warning that the development could undermine democratic participation in the state.
She said the reported killing of 12 APC members, as alleged by the party, and the subsequent protest by thousands of residents and supporters in Ilesa should concern all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation.
According to her, democracy loses its meaning when citizens become afraid to identify with political parties, attend political meetings, campaign for candidates of their choice or exercise their constitutional rights.
“Whether the victims belong to the APC, Accord Party, PDP, ADC or any other political organisation, the loss of Nigerian lives in circumstances connected with political activities must concern every responsible leader. No political ambition is worth the blood of a Nigerian,” she said.
Ajiboye-Omotowo, who described herself as a daughter of Osun State, a lawyer and a mother, said her personal experience of losing her 25-year-old son had deepened her empathy for families affected by political violence.
She said the death of every person represents a tragedy for an entire family, comprising parents, children, spouses, siblings and friends whose lives may never remain the same.
The APC chieftain also expressed concern over what she described as a growing atmosphere of fear among some APC members in Osun, alleging that party members were being subjected to harassment and intimidation because of their political affiliation.
She, however, stressed that the demand for protection should not be limited to APC members, insisting that all residents and supporters of political parties in the state deserve equal protection.
“Mr President, Osun APC members need protection. But so does every resident of Osun State,” she said.
Ajiboye-Omotowo urged the President, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief, to direct relevant federal security agencies to strengthen security in Osun, particularly at identified flashpoints, political gathering venues and communities where tensions are escalating.
She called for intelligence-led policing and proactive security measures capable of preventing attacks before they occurred, while urging security agencies to remain professional and impartial.
She further demanded comprehensive and independent investigations into reported political killings, attacks, threats and intimidation in the state.
According to her, anyone found culpable after credible investigations should be prosecuted in accordance with the law, irrespective of political connections or affiliations.
The lawyer cautioned against allowing allegations of political violence to degenerate into political speculation, saying every allegation should be subjected to professional investigation and established through credible evidence.
She appealed to political actors to redirect the political contest towards issues of governance and development rather than violence.
“Let politicians debate roads. Let us debate agriculture. Let us debate jobs, education, healthcare, industrialisation, security, investment and how Osun can build a stronger partnership with the Federal Government,” she said.
Ajiboye-Omotowo argued that Osun State possessed enormous opportunities in agriculture, tourism, solid minerals, commerce and small-scale industries, stressing that the political discourse should focus on how to harness these opportunities for economic development and improved living standards.
She said the electorate deserved to hear competing ideas on competence, technical expertise, administrative capacity and economic vision rather than being subjected to an atmosphere of fear.
She also appealed to supporters of the APC, Accord Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other political parties to respect one another’s democratic rights.
“Our support for the APC and its candidate should never become justification for anyone to threaten, harass or attack us. In the same manner, supporters of the Accord Party, PDP, ADC and other opposition parties must be guaranteed their freedom and security,” she said.
The APC chieftain said political meetings and rallies should not become potential flashpoints for violence, while citizens should not have to fear losing their lives for exercising their constitutional right to support a political party or candidate.
She urged President Tinubu to act before the situation deteriorated further, saying the approaching political contest should be determined by ideas, programmes, competence and records rather than intimidation.
“The greatest victory for democracy will not merely be which party eventually triumphs at the ballot box. It will be that Osun conducts its political process peacefully and that every legitimate vote is cast without intimidation,” she said.
Ajiboye-Omotowo concluded by appealing to all political actors to remember their shared humanity, saying no political disagreement should justify the loss of a life.
“As a mother who has buried a 25-year-old son, I cannot treat the death of another person’s child, husband, wife, brother or sister as merely another political statistic,” she said.
She urged the President to use his office to ensure that security institutions protect lives, investigate credible allegations of political violence and guarantee a peaceful democratic environment throughout Osun State.
“Enough of political intimidation. Enough of harassment. Enough of violence. No mother should bury her child because of politics,” she added.
