Politics

State of Emergency Will Not Work in Osun – Gov Adeleke Warns

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has warned the federal government and political opponents that declaring a state of emergency will fail completely in his state even if a revolution breaks out.

The governor gave this warning on Wednesday during a condolence visit to Esa-Oke in the Obokun Local Government Area, where he visited the grieving family of Ajayi Aderogba, a slain Accord Party member popularly known as Rogba.

Aderogba was shot dead on Tuesday in Esa-Oke while preparing for a political rally organized to support Governor Adeleke’s second-term campaign. The killing comes amid a rising wave of politically motivated violence as Osun State prepares for its upcoming governorship election in August.

It can be recalled that President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in then opposition-controlled Rivers State in 2025, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara following political tensions.

Vowing that Osun would resist any similar federal takeover, Adeleke said: “There is what we call revolution. If revolution starts, nobody should try state of emergency. It can not work in Osun. Enough is enough.”

During his visit to the deceased’s family, the governor expressed frustration with federal security agencies, alleging that no action has been taken despite his formal complaints to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunde Disu, regarding the targeted killings in the state. Adeleke revealed that he had even sent video evidence of the violent incidents directly to the police, but lamented that “nothing is done yet.”

He also turned his frustration toward the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), criticizing the APC Director General, Honorable Oluwole Oke, by claiming he had achieved absolutely nothing despite being in government for 24 years. Furthermore, the governor called out APC national leader, Chief Bisi Akande, for keeping silent over the ongoing killings, and urged local traditional rulers to boldly speak up against the violence.

Adeleke urged the residents of Esa-Oke to completely reject the APC at the upcoming polls, warning that allowing the opposition party to win would mean that Rogba “died in vain.”

Before leaving the family, the governor promised to cushion the impact of the loss by pledging to personally fund the welfare and education of the deceased’s wife and children.