By: Olayemi Marvellous
The Osun State Government has raised the alarm over alleged plans by some stakeholders to trigger fresh rounds of crisis in local government councils and motor parks across the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, raised the concern in a statement issued on Sunday, warning that any attempt to disrupt public peace must stop immediately in the interest of the people and the state.
According to Alimi, the period following the August 15 election should be devoted to reconciliation, healing and peace-building rather than a return to political violence.
“The Osun State Government on Sunday warned against any disruption of public peace by any group or individuals, declaring that it is time for post-election reconciliation and peace-building in the state,” he said.
The government also expressed condolences to victims of the tensions and violence recorded before the election, calling on residents to embrace healing and avoid actions capable of plunging the state back into conflict.
It acknowledged reports of disruptions in some parts of the state in the immediate aftermath of the election and urged all residents and political actors to allow peaceful co-existence and rule-based interactions to prevail.
The government stressed that any alleged plan to instigate violence should be abandoned, noting that Osun requires peace and stability to achieve meaningful development.
“The Osun election has been won and lost. Mr President and Mr Governor have engaged on a peaceful way forward. Any push towards violence represents an affront to the Presidency and the Nigerian Constitution,” the statement added.
The state government further called on security agencies to uphold the rule of law by facilitating the release of political detainees and ending what it described as perceived partisan policing, particularly in matters relating to local government and motor park management.
Alimi urged political actors and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, stressing that the state must not relapse into the killings, clashes and political tensions that characterised the pre-election period.
“We call on all political actors to speak and act peacefully. Osun should be in a period of healing and building. We must not allow a relapse into the pre-election era of killings and violence,” he said.
The government maintained that sustained peace remains essential to the development of Osun State and appealed to all stakeholders to prioritise the interests of the people above political differences.