*Urges Police to Arrest Alowonle, Sibi, Governor’s Other Associates Linked to Attack in Ile-Ife
The Osun State APC Governorship Campaign Council has described the reported killing of notorious political thug, Olalekan Dauda Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade, in Ile-Ife, on Sunday, as a disturbing development that lends credence to the persistent warnings by the All Progressives Congress (APC) about the activities of the Governor Adeleke government thugs in Osun State.
The latest incident should compel the security agencies to take a fresh and serious look at the activities of political thugs and rival factions associated with Governor Ademola Adeleke Accord Party.
The reported killing of Emir Ajagungbade, allegedly by another group linked to the Accord Party and said to be led by Nurudeen Alowonle, a factional chairman of the Osun State NURTW, is, in our view, another indication of the dangerous factional struggles and violent networks operating within the party.
Before his death, Emir Ajagungbade, had been facing serious criminal allegations, including murder and terrorism charges, before he was granted bail.
He was subsequently declared wanted by the police after jumping bail. But despite his wanted status, he later took refuge at the Government House in Okefia, Osogbo to evade police arrest.
Alowonle, another appointee of Governor Adeleke, was arrested in 2024 in possession of a Beretta pistol but the case was swept under carpet ostensibly on the prompting of the governor.
Both Alowonle and Emir Ajagungbade were declared wanted by the police in connection with violent killings of APC members. Sadly, they became sacred cows that could not be arrested because they are Adeleke’s associates.
The Campaign Council is particularly concerned by reports that the Adeleke administration was considering appointing Emir Ajagungbade as Chairman of the Osun State Park Management System, replacing Alowonle, and that the reported political rivalry surrounding the proposed change may have contributed to the circumstances that culminated in today’s attack.
Eye witness accounts have fingered Nurudeen Alowonle and Chairman of Mini-bus operators in Ile-Ife, Olayemi Ojo (aka Sibi) as arrowheads of Emir Ajagungbade’s murder.
We implore the Nigeria Police Force to immediately arrest Olayemi Ojo (Sibi) and Nurudeen Alowonle.
It is particularly strange and disturbing that even after the conclusion of the August 15 governorship election, thugs associated with the Accord Party are still attacking our members and innocent citizens.
The election is over. There is, therefore, no justification whatsoever for the continued use of violence, intimidation or political thuggery.
The APC Governorship Campaign Council, therefore, calls on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to immediately strengthen the protection of lives and property across Osun State, particularly the lives of APC members and other innocent citizens who may become victims of political violence.
We further urge the police and other relevant security agencies to scale up their intelligence-gathering operations, identify and apprehend all individuals involved in political violence, and dismantle networks of political thuggery operating across the state.
Most importantly, the security agencies must intensify efforts to mop up illegal arms and ammunition in circulation and ensure that politically exposed individuals and their associates do not have access to firearms that could be used to threaten the lives of citizens.
The APC remains committed to democracy, peace and the rule of law and the party will continue to resist every attempt to turn Osun State into a theatre of political violence, while urging all citizens to remain calm and law-abiding.
Signed:
Engr Oluremi Omowaiye
Head, Media and Publicity Committee
APC Governorship Campaign Council, Osun State.
