By Sunday Oguntuyi, Osogbo
The spokesperson to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, has dismissed allegations of violence levelled against the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, describing them as fabricated and politically motivated.
Rasheed, in a statement issued in Osogbo on Thursday, said the claims were a “desperate attempt” by the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to distract attention from what he described as its alleged violent political activities in the state.
He maintained that Akinleye is a peaceful politician with a long-standing reputation for non-violence and respect for democratic processes.
“It is quite distasteful that the Osun APC is employing crooked means to target a good man with outright lies so as to impugn his character in the estimation of the unsuspecting public,” the statement read.
According to him, the allegations were part of a broader political strategy aimed at discrediting key figures in the Adeleke administration ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
He further alleged that the APC has been associated with violent incidents in parts of the state, including attacks linked to political thugs, claims which the party has repeatedly denied.
Rasheed also accused the opposition party of attempting to shift attention from what he described as its own record of political violence, insisting that the government has consistently rejected violence in all forms.
He cited incidents involving members of opposition parties and alleged attacks in Osogbo and Ede, claiming that some victims were currently receiving treatment in hospitals.
The spokesperson criticised the handling of security issues in the state, urging the Nigeria Police Force to carry out impartial investigations into reported cases of political violence.
He also alleged that the failure to arrest perpetrators of past incidents had emboldened political thuggery, calling for stronger enforcement of law and order.
Rasheed, however, stressed that the Adeleke administration remains committed to peaceful political engagement and urged all parties to resolve disagreements through democratic and lawful means.
He reiterated that neither the governor’s office nor Alhaji Akinleye promotes or supports violence in any form.
The statement called on security agencies to act decisively against individuals or groups involved in political violence, regardless of their affiliation, to ensure a peaceful political environment ahead of the elections.