Violence Allegations Against Akinleye Are False, Politically Motivated — Adeleke’s Spokesperson
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
The spokesperson to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, has dismissed allegations linking the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, to acts of violence, describing the claims as false and politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Rasheed said the allegations were part of a broader attempt by the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to distract public attention from what he described as the party’s involvement in violent activities across the state.
According to him, Akinleye is widely known for his peaceful disposition and commitment to democratic values.
“It is quite distasteful that the Osun APC is employing crooked means to target a good man with outright lies so as to impugn his character in the estimation of the unsuspecting public. Alhaji Akinleye is a politician well respected in society for his peaceful disposition to pursuing political objectives,” Rasheed said.
He maintained that Akinleye had never engaged in acts of intimidation or coercion and respects the democratic rights of citizens to freely make political choices.
“Alhaji Akinleye is a thoroughbred democrat who respects the democratic right to freedom of choice and at no time did he ever engage in forcing people to act against their beliefs,” he stated.
Rasheed alleged that a video circulated by a political opponent, alongside subsequent statements by the APC, was part of a calculated effort to mislead the public and damage Akinleye’s reputation ahead of the governorship election.
“Both the video and the follow-up statement by the Osun APC are scripted to mislead the public and form part of a broader plan to take Alhaji Akinleye out of circulation in the build-up to the governorship election,” he added.
The governor’s spokesperson further accused the APC of being linked to recent incidents of political violence in the state.
“If there is anyone who trades in violence to silence opponents, it is no other than the Osun APC,” he said, alleging that individuals associated with the party were involved in shootings in Owode-Ede and Osogbo that resulted in casualties.
Rasheed also expressed concern over what he described as the failure of the Osun State Police Command to take decisive action against perpetrators of political violence.
“As a government, the Adeleke administration has consistently rejected violence and called for actions against actors and their sponsors. Unfortunately, the Osun Police Command under Mr Ibrahim Gotan has failed to act, and this has emboldened political thugs to continue to unleash mayhem on the people,” he said.
He cited the killing of Accord Party member Kolade Eluyera in May and the shooting of the Accord chairman in Osogbo Local Government, Asimiyu Ajibola, on June 3, as examples of incidents that remain unresolved.
Rasheed further alleged that political thugs operating in campaign vehicles branded with the insignia of the APC governorship candidate were involved in recent attacks, noting that no arrests had been made.
He called on the police authorities to carry out an impartial investigation into the allegations against Akinleye and other claims surrounding recent political developments in the state.
“It is therefore reprehensible for the Osun APC to want to shift attention away from its violent campaigns on Accord members and Osun people in general, and cast a peace-loving man in a bad light,” he said.
“We reiterate that the Adeleke administration strongly rejects violence in whatever form and no one in the government, including Alhaji Akinleye, is a promoter of violence.”
Rasheed urged security agencies to take firm action against individuals involved in political violence, stressing the need to safeguard lives and maintain peace ahead of the governorship election.
