Adeleke meets new CP, opens petition window over violence

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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Monday demanded fair and impartial policing from the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, as part of efforts to restore peace and rebuild public trust following the turbulence that trailed the last governorship election.

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The governor, who met Zungura during the CP’s courtesy visit, also unveiled a 10-member Committee on Election Violence Victims to verify claims by persons affected by election-related violence and oversee the disbursement of the N500m Election Violence Victims Relief Endowment Fund.

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A statement by the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, obtained on Monday said Zungura, in company of top officials of the state police command, paid the governor a courtesy visit on his assumption of office.

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Adeleke urged the new police chief to reorganise the command’s operations, strengthen police-community relations and end alleged partisan conduct, while assuring him of the state government’s support without strings attached.

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He also demanded disciplinary action against the Ikire DPO over a recent police operation in the area that resulted in two deaths, describing the officer as a threat to the people he was posted to protect.

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The governor said, “I therefore have specific requests as part of our efforts to consolidate peace and state reconciliation: Let us rebuild public trust in the police. You must make deliberate efforts to remove many areas of current police conduct that paint it as partisan and anti-people.”

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He also called for the release of Accord members he described as political detainees, an end to further arrests of his supporters and the full participation of the police command in state security council meetings.

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Zungura, who replaced the immediate past CP, Ibrahim Gotan, pledged to restore confidence in the police and ensure impartial law enforcement.

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“I promise to work with the state government for peace and stability of the state. I will be fair to all, and I will prove my commitment in the next few weeks. Osun is a peaceful state, and we will work to address all outstanding issues,” he said.

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Meanwhile, Adeleke inaugurated the 10-member election violence victims committee, chaired by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.

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The committee is mandated to receive and verify petitions, claims and supporting evidence from victims, determine eligible claimants and recommend appropriate relief in line with guidelines approved by the state government.

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The government urged persons affected by election-related violence to submit genuine claims and relevant evidence to the committee, stressing that the N500m fund would be administered transparently and strictly for verified victims.

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The committee includes representatives of civil society organisations, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, as well as officials of the state Ministries of Information and Justice.

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The committee will also oversee the disbursement of the N500m fund provided by the state government.

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A statement by Rasheed, obtained in Osogbo on Monday, said the committee will undertake a transparent and credible verification process to establish genuine claims and ensure that relief reaches deserving victims.

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According to the statement, membership of the committee includes Mrs Eniola Omotoso, member; Mr Emmanuel Olowu, representative of Civil Society Organisations, member; Alhaja Balkiss Akinleye, member, nominee of the Nigeria Police Force, member; Alhaji Moshood Suleiman (Ministry of Information), member; Moses Faremi Esq, Ministry of Justice, member, nominee of the Department of State Services, member; Yemi Lawal, member; Mr Sola Sonibare, Executive Secretary, Osun Investment Promotion Agency, as Secretary.

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It enjoined all affected persons with genuine claims to cooperate with the committee by providing accurate information and relevant evidence necessary for the verification process.

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“The committee is expected to ensure that the N500m relief fund is administered transparently, fairly and strictly for the benefit of verified victims,” it added.

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