A group, the Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC), has dissociated itself from a press conference and the petition sent to President Muhammadu Buhari on the political violence in the state.
Recall that the political violence in the state culminated in the gun duel on Monday, February 14, 2022, between some suspected political thugs and the security agents attached to Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister for Interior.
The group also disowned the Coalition of Civil Societies Organisation and the petition with the heading: “Dangerous and Socially Irresponsible Actions of The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.”
Making this known in a press conference on Tuesday in Osogbo, the group maintained that it does not know anything about the press conference and petition sent to the president, insisting that all the people and organisations listed as signatories to the petition were not members of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition.
The Chairman, Waheed Lawal, revealed that the actions of the petitioners were politically motivated for pecuniary gains adding that the said individuals were hurriedly put together by political elements who needed the service of available, corruptible civil society groups to drive their selfish interest.
Lawal, who also noted that there was a growing trend of insecurity with a side attraction of political violence in the state, explained that some traditional rulers were forced to reluctantly declare a dusk to dawn curfew due to the incessant armed robbery incidents.
“There is a growing trend of insecurity with a side attraction of political violence. Recently, the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi declared a dusk to dawn curfew because of the incessant armed robbery in the city.
“The Aree in Council in Iree, the host community of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, also declared curfew because of armed robbery, kidnapping and ritual killings in the town a few weeks ago. Cultists and hoodlums have been terrorising Ilesa and Ede consistently, leaving nothing less than 18 people dead.
“Osogbo, the state capital, is now an abode for both cultists and thugs. The rate at which thugs are ‘growing’ in Osogbo is alarming and this calls for concern from all rational residents of the state,” he said.
While appealing to the politicians, the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola; and the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; to embrace peace, Lawal condemned the political violence and individuals connected to it.
He also called on the security agencies in the state to act fast in restoring peace to Osun.
