Osun Poll: Eagle FM callers demand action against political violence, threats

Jeremiah Adeshina

As Osun State prepares for Saturday’s governorship election, callers to Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, have raised fresh concerns over alleged political violence, threats against voters, federal influence, the dispute over local government funds and the management of motor parks in the state.

The concerns emerged during a heated edition of the programme on Thursday, which featured the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Hon. Kolapo Alimi.

The discussion focused largely on the tense political atmosphere in Osun, allegations of intimidation and voter suppression, the controversy surrounding local government allocations and the role of security agencies in ensuring that Saturday’s election is conducted peacefully.

One of the callers, identified as AB from Epe, questioned the controversy surrounding local government funds, arguing that councils should have control over allocations meant for them in line with the principle of local government autonomy.

The caller, however, expressed concern that too much attention was being devoted to the financial dispute when, in his view, greater attention should be paid to deaths and other violent incidents allegedly linked to the political crisis in the state.

AB also raised concerns about the possible influence of the Federal Government in Saturday’s election, against the backdrop of allegations by the Osun State Government that federal institutions were being used to frustrate the state administration.

Responding to the concerns, Alimi alleged that local government allocations meant for Osun State were being paid to council officials backed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), while the state government was allegedly shouldering about N6.5 billion monthly in local government salary obligations.

He further alleged that the financial dispute was part of a broader political attempt to weaken the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke ahead of the election.

Another caller, Wasiu from Ago-Iwoye, questioned the practice of holding isolated governorship elections, arguing that the deployment of political actors and security personnel from different parts of the country to a state for a single election could heighten political tension.

Wasiu linked the current atmosphere in Osun to the local government election conducted after the 2022 governorship election, alleging that the state became increasingly tense following the exercise.

He also raised concerns over the reported death of a local government chairman and other violent incidents, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies to identify and prosecute anyone found responsible for political violence.

The caller further appealed to security agencies to take threatening political statements seriously and provide adequate protection for individuals, communities and locations considered vulnerable ahead of Saturday’s poll.

His concerns came against the backdrop of allegations raised during the programme over threats against opposition supporters and controversy surrounding a viral video involving Senator Francis Fadahunsi.

Alimi alleged that some APC supporters had been warning voters who were not prepared to vote for the party to stay away from polling units.

According to him, the alleged threats were designed to discourage voters and ultimately reduce participation in the election.

“They have been telling the people around that don’t come out to vote if you are not going to vote for APC. They have been issuing that threat over a long period of time,” Alimi alleged.

The commissioner also accused the APC of relying on alleged federal influence to suppress the will of voters in Osun State.

“APC in Osun State knows that they have been rejected. They know that people don’t like them, but they are ready to brag at every opportunity that they will use federal might to suppress the will of the people,” he alleged.

Alimi further alleged that the political tension being generated in the state was deliberate and intended to discourage citizens from participating in the election.

“They are creating tension so that at the end of the day, the number of people that will come out to vote will be drastically reduced,” he said.

The allegations underscore growing concerns about voter turnout and the ability of residents to exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.

The programme also examined the longstanding controversy over the control and management of motor parks in Osun State.

Explaining the administration’s decision to establish the Park Management System, Alimi said the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, was not functioning as a united organisation when the Adeleke administration assumed office.

According to him, internal disputes within the union had created a situation in which the government was compelled to intervene in the management of motor parks.

He said the national leadership of the NURTW, including its National President, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, and Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, had visited Osun State in an attempt to resolve the crisis and restore the union’s structure.

Alimi said the state government eventually adopted the Park Management System to regulate activities in motor parks, noting that similar arrangements were already operating in other states.

However, he alleged that the motor park controversy had subsequently become part of a wider political struggle ahead of the governorship election.

According to him, individuals allegedly linked to the APC had taken control of some motor parks in the state.

He further alleged that the development was accompanied by violence and the use of firearms, while accusing the police of providing protection for those who allegedly took control of the parks.

The allegations, if established, could further heighten concerns over the security situation ahead of the election.

Another caller, Oscar from Ijebu-Ode, condemned what he described as the growing role of violence in Nigerian politics.

He argued that political office should primarily be about public service and improving the lives of citizens rather than pursuing power at all costs.

Oscar questioned why politicians seeking the votes of citizens would resort to violence against the same people whose support they needed to win elections.

He called for fundamental reforms in Nigeria’s political system, warning that political violence would continue unless politicians and political parties changed their approach to elections.

He expressed hope that Saturday’s election would be conducted peacefully and that incidents of violence would be kept to the barest minimum.

The concerns expressed by the callers and the allegations made during the programme have placed renewed focus on the responsibility of security agencies to protect voters, electoral officials, political parties and other stakeholders.

With the election scheduled for Saturday, stakeholders have continued to call for restraint, peaceful conduct and respect for the democratic process.

The central concern expressed during the Eagle FM programme was that political disagreements should not be allowed to translate into intimidation, violence or the suppression of citizens’ right to vote.

The callers also stressed the need for security agencies to act impartially and decisively against individuals or groups found to be threatening voters or engaging in acts capable of disrupting the election.

The Osun governorship contest has attracted significant national attention, with Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party seeking another term against the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and other contenders.

As voters prepare to head to the polling units, the issues raised on Frontline reflect the wider anxiety surrounding the election, particularly over security, voter turnout, political influence and the credibility of the electoral process.

The expectation among residents and stakeholders is that Saturday’s poll will provide voters with a safe and peaceful environment to freely exercise their constitutional right without intimidation or interference.

Ultimately, the responsibility rests on political actors, security agencies, electoral officials and citizens to ensure that the contest remains within the bounds of democratic competition and that the will of the people is allowed to prevail.