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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The Osun Masterminds (TOM), a coalition of civil societies, has once again called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to replace Adekunle Omoyele, the Osun State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, following the recent killings of three individuals in Akinlalu, Ife North Local Government.
During their monthly state address on Wednesday, Executive Director Prof Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli expressed dismay at the situation, recalling previous warnings against Omoyele’s appointment.
“We cautioned the Osun State Government about appointing a man of questionable character, whose tenure in the Police Force was marred by accusations of murder, brutality, and abuse of power,” he stated.
In the July 2024 State of the State Address, TOM had highlighted petitions against Omoyele presented to the EndSARS Panel, noting that these accusations were substantiated and recommendations made.
“Regrettably, the government ignored our warnings and appointed someone with a history of criminal allegations as the head of Amotekun in Osun. As we predicted, Amotekun has unfortunately become a rogue organisation, leading to the tragic deaths of innocent people in Akinlalu,” the group lamented.
Comrade Ayo Ologun echoed these sentiments, reiterating that Omoyele is unfit for the position. “It is time for Governor Adeleke to appoint someone with integrity and a proven track record to lead Amotekun,” he urged. Ologun also mentioned seeing Omoyele being questioned at the Police Force headquarters in Abuja and called for clarity from police spokespersons regarding his status.
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The group criticised the state government’s reasoning for the halted recruitment process for teachers, labelling it “ridiculous and irresponsible.”
They urged the government to address the declining state of education to safeguard the future of children in Osun. “If the government can continue to pay local government staff despite funding seizures, it must prioritise critical manpower for essential sectors like education and healthcare,” they asserted.
TOM urged the government to regulate fees at public institutions, highlighting the financial burden on prospective students at the University of Ilesa and Osun State University.
They also appealed to gubernatorial aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their supporters to focus on substantive issues rather than engaging in character attacks, warning that such behaviour threatens the peace of the state.
The group called on the federal government to prevent a full-blown strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), emphasising that dialogue, not threats, is crucial for resolving disputes.
They urged the new INEC chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, to view his role as a call to duty and strive to enhance the performance of his predecessor.
