Accord Rejects Police Invitation, Demands Arrest of Attackers Before Dialogue
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
The Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has rejected an invitation from the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to attend a meeting with the state police command, insisting that it will not participate in any engagement until those responsible for the alleged killings and attacks on its members are apprehended.
The party accused the police command of failing to address a series of violent incidents involving its members and supporters, alleging that the command had shown little commitment to bringing perpetrators to justice.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its State Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, the party said the invitation came at a time when several reported cases involving attacks on its members remained unresolved.
The Osun State Police Command had invited members of the party’s state executive to a meeting scheduled for Monday to discuss recent developments in the state. According to Accord, the invitation was received late Sunday night and did not specify the agenda of the meeting.
Explaining its decision to boycott the meeting, the party described the invitation as “an attempt for photo opportunity on the pains and injuries of Accord members.”
The statement read: “Our members suffered repeatedly out of negligence, criminal collusion and unwillingness for law enforcement of the police command. We lost our youth leader at Ikire. Up till now, no single arrest has been made.”
The party also alleged that its billboards were vandalised by suspected APC supporters without any arrests being made by security agencies.
“Our billboards were openly destroyed by APC thugs. The police command is yet to make any arrest. The Osun APC in broad daylight attacked several Accord members, shooting sporadically across the state capital and Ede. Seven people, mostly Accord sympathisers, were seriously injured,” the statement added.
Accord further alleged that armed political thugs have continued to move around various towns in the state unchecked.
“On a daily basis, APC thugs parade Osun towns with arms and firing sporadically to scare residents. It is alarming that despite knowing these thugs and their abode, the police fail to arrest or stop their nefarious activities,” the party said.
The party also referenced the killing of a 14-year-old supporter, claiming the incident occurred in the presence of police officers.
“Just yesterday, a 14-year-old Accord sympathiser was killed in the presence of policemen by APC thugs. As at the time of issuing this statement, no arrest has been made by the police,” it stated.
Accord maintained that it would not honour any invitation from the police commissioner until visible action is taken against those allegedly responsible for the attacks.
“We therefore find it difficult to honour invitations from the police commissioner until he does the needful. We charge him to act professionally and enforce fair policing,” the statement concluded.