Senator Fadahunsi has denied allegedly inciting violence against political opponents in a viral video, describing the footage as a deliberate misrepresentation, while Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called for a police investigation.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Senator Fadahunsi
Senator Francis Fadahunsi has dismissed claims of inciting violence, as Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has formally requested the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate a viral clip.
A viral clip on social media purports to show Senator Fadahunsi calling for retaliation against political opponents as campaigns intensify for the Osun State governorship election. However, in a statement on Tuesday, Fadahunsi debunked the claim as a “deliberate misrepresentation”.
The lawmaker stated he was addressing the “continued killing of APC members” by alleged thugs in Ilesa, maintaining that his party would “defend its people” if the violence persisted.
“The video was deliberately edited to distort what I actually said,” Senator Fadahunsi stated. “What I said was that if the alleged killing of our party members by Accord Party thugs does not stop, our party will retaliate. I was referring to the continued violence and attacks against our members in Ilesa and other parts of the state.”
“My statement was very clear: if the killings do not stop, we shall also retaliate. We are here to lodge complaints and demand justice. It is unacceptable for human beings to kill fellow human beings the way our members are allegedly being killed in Ilesa,” he added.
“All those being killed are Nigerians and, indeed, sons and daughters of the same communities. I stated unequivocally that if our party members are killed again, we will not simply fold our arms and watch. We will defend our people, even if such an incident occurs on election day. Unfortunately, Davido and Olajengbesi took less than two minutes from a speech that lasted about 24 minutes and circulated it to achieve cheap political objectives. This is a clear case of deliberate misrepresentation and manipulation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has accused Fadahunsi of inciting violence and “genocide” against members of the Accord Party. He has requested a thorough investigation to prevent the actualisation of such threats, adding that nobody, no matter how highly placed, should be above the law.
