THE Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State, High Chief Kayode Ajewole, has expressed his condolences to the people of Ijebu-Ijesa, the headquarters of Oriade Local Government, over the tragic incident that occurred on Monday night, which claimed the life of a young man, Timileyin Oni, while others reportedly sustained injuries.
High Chief Ajewole described the incident as unfortunate and unacceptable, stressing that every effort must be made to uncover the circumstances surrounding the death.
He sympathized with the family of the deceased and the entire Ijebu-Ijesa community, while calling on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
The APC chairman also condemned what he described as the politicization of the unfortunate incident by members of the opposition Accord Party. He urged political actors to demonstrate maturity and avoid using the death of an individual as a means of scoring political points, emphasizing that human lives should not be dragged into unnecessary political controversies.
Ajewole called on Accord Party loyalists to allow security agencies to carry out their investigations without interference, noting that the APC remains committed to peace, unity, and peaceful coexistence among residents irrespective of political affiliations.
Reacting to the closure of the Ijebu-Ijesa market by some Accord Party supporters, the APC chairman described the action as inappropriate and unacceptable. He stated that shutting down the market and preventing traders and residents from carrying out their legitimate businesses was against the culture and traditions of the community.
According to him, matters relating to the temporary closure of markets or major community decisions are issues that should follow due process and be handled through the appropriate traditional and community leadership structures, not through individual actions. He warned those behind the lockdown to respect the customs of the land and avoid actions capable of causing further tension among the people.
High Chief Kayode Ajewole further cautioned against linking the APC or its leaders, members, and supporters to the incident without evidence, advising those making allegations to first listen to the statement released by the brother of the deceased before reaching conclusions. He urged security agencies handling the investigation to remain impartial, conduct a thorough probe, and ensure that anyone found culpable faces the full weight of the law.