The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has leveled serious allegations against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, accusing him of planning to assassinate the state’s governor, Ademola Adeleke. The claims were made public by the PDP during a press conference held in Osogbo on Wednesday, with the party expressing grave concerns over the ongoing local government crisis in the state.
According to the Osun PDP chairman, Sunday Bisi, the IGP has been orchestrating a series of violent events aimed at destabilizing the state. Bisi stated that Egbetokun had deployed Police Special Forces to escort individuals described as miscreants into local government council secretariats, a move he claimed was intended to stoke unrest. “This was nothing but a blatant coup. The move is part of a broader plan to assassinate the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke,” Bisi asserted.
These allegations come at a time when Osun is grappling with a local government crisis, which has escalated in recent days. Bisi explained that the conflict arose after sacked local government chairmen and councillors from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) attempted to regain control of council secretariats, leading to violent clashes. “Governor Adeleke has been engaging with the IGP to restore peace after the violence erupted on Monday,” Bisi added, referring to the escalating tension.
The violence reportedly led to the deaths of at least six people, including Remi Abass, the ousted chairman of Irewole Local Government Area, who was killed in Ikire town. Bisi emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “The whole world must warn and prevail on Mr. Kayode Egbetokun to desist from enabling these attempts on the life of our governor.” He further accused the IGP of complicity in creating an atmosphere of fear and tension in Osun.
Bisi also criticized the IGP for his alleged disregard for due process and security protocols. He pointed out that nearly ten people had lost their lives in violent confrontations within just 48 hours of the unrest. “The blatant disregard for due process by the IGP is suspicious and dangerous. Rather than reinforcing security to protect lives, Egbetokun’s actions have emboldened troublemakers,” Bisi said, demanding a thorough investigation into the events.
The PDP chairman also questioned the IGP’s actions regarding the recent court judgment in the state. “Why did Egbetokun sidetrack Governor Adeleke before taking a position on the court judgement?” Bisi asked, implying that the IGP’s actions were politically motivated and aimed at undermining the state’s elected leadership.
Looking ahead, Bisi warned that the police’s intervention could be part of a broader strategy to disrupt the upcoming local government elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025. “The IGP is ready to bend the rules and allow killings of our people just to prevent the elections from taking place,” Bisi said. The PDP emphasized that Osun State would not be intimidated and vowed to continue resisting any efforts to destabilize the government, even from powerful figures like the IGP whose tenure, according to Bisi, has been mired in controversy.
