By Comrade James Onifade
The reports of sporadic gunshots around Oke-Fia, Owode and Aisu areas of Osogbo have raised fresh concerns about political desperation ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
These incidents deserve condemnation from every lover of peace and democracy. At a time when Nigerians are battling economic hardship, insecurity and uncertainty, Osun people do not need fear and panic manufactured for political gain.
What is more troubling is the recurring pattern of intimidation and harassment allegedly linked to opposition political activities in the state. Rather than presenting policies, programmes and ideas to convince voters, some actors are focused on creating tension and an atmosphere of fear.
Yet they forget one truth: Osun people are politically conscious and cannot be intimidated into abandoning their convictions. The more residents face intimidation and harassment, the more the credibility and public acceptance of the APC governorship candidate erode.
Politics must be about service, vision and leadership. It must never be reduced to intimidation, violence or fear. Such actions damage democratic values and alienate the very people politicians seek to govern.
There is also growing public concern over the response of the Osun State Police Command to politically related incidents. The perceived reluctance to thoroughly investigate allegations linked to opposition actors has raised questions about impartiality.
Security agencies owe their duty to the Constitution and the people, not to political interests. Any perception that criminal acts are treated with leniency weakens public confidence in law enforcement and emboldens further misconduct.
The police must therefore rise above suspicion and demonstrate fairness, professionalism and neutrality. Every allegation, regardless of who is involved, deserves proper investigation.
Despite these concerns, I urge the good people of Osun State to remain calm and law-abiding. Election seasons in Nigeria have always witnessed attempts by desperate politicians to create fear. This is not the first, and it will not be the last.
Residents must not be distracted or intimidated. Markets should remain open, businesses must thrive, and communities should continue to live peacefully.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has repeatedly shown that the welfare, security and peace of Osun people remain top priorities. The administration continues to ensure that lives and property are protected across the state.
I have every confidence that normalcy will prevail and Osun will remain one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria as preparations for the August 15 election progress.
I call on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to thoroughly investigate the reported incidents and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the full weight of the law. Political leaders must also take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters and publicly discourage acts that disrupt public peace.
Osun people deserve campaigns, not chaos. They deserve persuasion, not intimidation. They deserve peace, not panic.
As the election approaches, all political actors must remember: political power is temporary, but the consequences of violence can last for generations.
Let us choose peace over provocation, dialogue over intimidation, and democracy over disorder.
Anything contrary to this has no place in a democratic society.
Signed:
Comrade James Onifade
Advocate for Good Governance and Judicial Reform
