The appointment of Mr. Jelili Adesiyan from Osun State by President Goodluck Jonathan as the Police Affairs Minister, has been faulted by a group – Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Groups (COSEG) – which described it as an insult on the Yoruba.
“It is also an attempt to shield him and his cohorts from prosecution over the death of the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige”, the group added.
In a statement by its Chairman and Secretary, Ifedayo Ogunlana and Rasak Olokoba respectively, at the end of its monthly meeting where the state of the nation topped the agenda, the body further described the appointment as an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
According to the group, the appointment of Adesiyan is not only an insult on the people of Yoruba land, but also a disservice to the memory of Chief Bola Ige, who was assassinated in his Ibadan Bodija residence on December 23, 2001.
It said of Adesiyan: “A man, who is an aide of Senator Iyiola Omisore, known for violence and brigandage, cannot be trusted in such a position. He is still under investigation for the murder of Ige, yet he is a minister in charge of a government agency. This calls to question the anti-corruption crusade of the Jonathan administration”.
It added that “We have noticed the hatred President Jonathan has for our people. This is why a suspected murderer could be appointed as a Police Affairs Minister”.
COSEG gave the Senate knocks for the hasty manner it confirmed the nomination of the suspected murderer, despite opposition from all the three senators from Osun State.
“We are confused on how a man standing trial for murder could have scaled the screening of the security as well as that of the Senate.
“It is also worrisome how our security system works if a suspected murderer, who has a case in court, could scale through security screening. This is why government has been unable to stop Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast”, the group said.
It went on: “The appointment of Adesiyan is not only mischievous, but also reckless, immoral, anti-people and a dangerous trend in the political development and appointments because he who asks for equity must come with clean hands.
“The appointment of Adesiyan is flawed. The Jonathan administration cannot continue to scorn the late Ige, an ex-Justice Minister”.
COSEG said it would resist attempt by the President to allegedly use the minister to rig the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State, adding that it would protect the sanctity of the ballot box.
Is this a deliberate mischief just to malign the President in every area whether remote or far fetched? it defies logic. Bola Ige’s murder happened since 2001 under former President Obasanjo considered as the worst President Nigeria ever produced since independence. Where were the critics? Like the proverbial ostrich, they kept mum until Adesiyan was appointed a Minister and that sparked another line of vituperation. Rather than condemn Obasanjo who had shown clear disdain for his own people by the brutal murder of one of its iconic sons under his government, COSEG would prefer to transfer their vent and frustrations on the President Jonathan. Even if they had genuine reasons to condemn Adesiyan’s appointment, calling Jonathan a hater of the Yoruba people just didnt add up.
DOnt mind dem @williams, dey can’t ask Obj wat happened, dey now want heap on GEJ who wasn’t even a presidential candidate @d time of d murder. Dese pple disgust me