The Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) has condemned the arrest of a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdulfatai Diekola Oyedele and five others.
Oyedele, popularly called “Jagun of Osun Politics” by his admirers and five others were on Monday arrested over alleged public disturbance by the men of the State Command of the Nigeria Police
Force (NPF), for their public celebration of the victory of the PDP candidate in last week’s senatorial poll.
The CSCEOS also said the arrest confirmed its earlier warning that the governor of the state, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola had concluded arrangement to clampdown on political opponents.
The other persons arrested along with Alhaji Oyedele were Prince Dejo Babalola, Alhaji S.B. Daodu, Folusho Babalola, Adebayo Daodu and Lekan Onikola.
The activists described the arrest as ‘’political, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, undemocratic and crime against humanity and God,’’ maintaining that it was ‘’irresponsible on the part of the State government to orchestrate politically motivated arrest against the people with different political views at a time people of the State are clamouring for total change in the governance of the State as a result of maladministration of Aregbesola’s government.’’
The group also condemned the indefinite suspension of three staffers of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) without query as stipulated by the Civil service rules, allegedly also for celebrating the PDP candidate’s victory.
Among those suspended were; Mrs. Folakemi Alonge of the Editorial department; and Messrs. Kunle Makanjuola and Mr. Gbadebo Adepoju of the Marketing department. The station had earlier suspended its Director of News and Current Affairs of the Radio arm, Mr. Olushola Ajiboye.
Chairman of CSCEOS, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman said the arrests and suspensions were part of the ‘maladministration of the Aregbesola government which cumulated in the last Saturday defeat of Aregbesola’s anointed candidate by the candidate of the PDP, Dr. Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke.
The group also called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris and State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olafimihan Adeoye, not to allow the Police to be used to silence political opponents of the state government.
‘’We urge Aregbesola not to set the state on fire because of political selfish aggrandizements and fear of constructive criticism of the opposition in the State.
‘’Aregbesola should see the outcome of Saturday’s Bye-election as wish of the people which was beauty of democracy.’’
It therefore called for an immediate and unconditional release of the APC leaders.