Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun on Monday told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that with the growing spate of violence and killings occasioned by politically motivated crisis in the state, Nigeria’s democracy is under threat.

He emphasised the determination of the people to resist rigging during August 15 polls, alleging that selective arrest and killing of Accord Party members may set a stage for the occurrence of the old Western Region’s crisis after the 1983 elections, which he recalled resulted in genocide and wanton destruction of properties in Old Oyo and Ondo states.

Expressing worry over the seeming non challant posture of Tinubu to the pre-election violence in Osun, which he led to alleged killings and indiscriminate arrest of Accord party members in various local government areas, Adeleke said “Mr President, something is happening in Osun that you didn’t intervene.

“They are killing our people. You are the president, you are the father for all of us. Osun has said they won’t allow rigging. There won’t be rigging in Osun. Remember what happened in 1983. It started in Yorubaland. When they cheated Bola Ige and Ajasin. Osun will not agree. We want free and fair election, “Adeleke posited.

Speaking in Yoruba language, he stated: I am passing this message to you (Tinubu).We have endorsed you, why are they killing us? The police are compromised. You didn’t go and meet kidnappers. I’m telling President Tinubu today. I’m the chief security officer of Osun state.

“President Tinubu, I’m passing this message to you. Osun will not accept any rigging. We will go out enmass and vote and defend our vote. Don’t let what happened in 1983 repeat in Osun. Accord party has endorsed you as our presidential candidate,  why are we suffering? Oyetola needs to be called to order.”

While contending that Tinubu should not allow his struggle for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria to be in vain, Oyetola added: “You worked for this democracy, don’t let Oyetola destroy everything. He is the one that spolied APC in Osun. He us fighting everybody.

“When you cheated me in 2018, I left you to govern. I travelled to America. I went to exile to let you do what you have to do. Now I am back and will m sure, with what we have done, I’m going to win this second term election. What we want is free and fair. If it is free and fair, I’m going to win the election, “Adeleke remarked.

Speaking earlier, the Director-General of The Imole Campaign Council (TICC), Senator Lere Oyewumi, charged the electorate not to abandon their votes after the election, stressing that they should follow up their civic responsibilities to collation centre and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office.