A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Chief Musibau Alade, has raised the alarm over the alleged politicisation of the Amotekun Corps, a Southwest regional security outfit in the state.
In a press release he issued at the weekend in Osogbo, Alade accused the Osun State government of using Amotekun to intimidate and silence political opponents, citing an incident involving a former aide to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
Alade narrated how Mr. Olaore Taiwo, a former aide to Oyetola, was allegedly subjected to a harrowing ordeal from Amotekun operatives, describing the incident as a “rogue operation” and a “blatant abuse of power,” warning that such actions desecrate the noble vision behind Amotekun’s creation.
Chief Alade said Amotekun, established under the leadership of former Governor Oyetola and other Southwest leaders, was designed as a grassroots security initiative to combat rising insecurity in the region through community trust and local intelligence.
He emphasised that during Oyetola’s tenure, Amotekun was never used to harass or silence political opponents, alleging that the current administration’s steering the outfit toward political vendetta is undermining its credibility and eroding public trust.
The APC chieftain warned that the politicisation of Amotekun could plunge Osun State into an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness, drawing parallels to authoritarian regimes where state apparatuses are used to suppress dissent.
He called for a united response from civil society organisations, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and the media to demand accountability and a thorough, independent investigation into the alleged assault on Olaore Taiwo.
