Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, has urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute those responsible for killings and other acts of violence reported in Osun State following the governorship election.
Gatekeepers News reports that Oyetola, a former governor of the state, expressed concern over what he described as “escalating post-election violence and tragic loss of lives across parts of the state” in a post on X on Tuesday.
The minister supported Bola Oyebamiji, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the August 15 governorship election, which was won by Ademola Adeleke, the incumbent governor who contested on the Accord platform.
Since the election, however, there have been reports of violence and killings allegedly linked to political disputes in parts of the state.
Condoling families who lost loved ones, Oyetola urged the police and other security agencies to take immediate action to restore calm and protect residents.
“Adequate security personnel should be deployed to volatile areas, public spaces reclaimed from hoodlums, and everyone found responsible for killings and other acts of violence promptly apprehended and brought to justice,” he wrote.
Oyetola condemned the reported attacks, saying political interests should never justify the loss of lives.
“I am deeply concerned by the escalating post-election violence and the tragic loss of lives across parts of Osun State,” he said.
“I condemn these attacks in the strongest terms. Violence against our people is a grave assault on the peace, heritage and democratic values that define our state.
“No political ambition, localised transition or commercial interest can ever justify the taking of a human life. Politics must be a vehicle for development, not a catalyst for bloodshed.”
The minister also called on political actors, community leaders and residents to exercise restraint and resolve disputes through dialogue.
“The progress and prosperity of Osun must never be sacrificed for political or commercial interests,” he added.
