Osun election buildup marred by violence, fear

Osun State, Nigeria, is on edge as it approaches its August 15 governorship election, a process increasingly marred by fear, violence, and intimidation. The political temperature has reached a frightening level, transforming what should be a democratic exercise into a theatre of conflict.

The state has been in turmoil for four years, stemming from a dispute over local government control. A local government election held at the end of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola's administration was nullified by a Federal High Court. Subsequent elections organized by Governor Ademola Adeleke faced conflicting judicial pronouncements, with both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claiming legitimacy.

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Thirty deaths over politics. Thirty families shattered because politicians prefer conquest to service. That is a national disgrace.

The situation erupted into violence when sacked APC chairmen attempted to resume office, leading to clashes and fatalities. The Nigeria Police Force confirmed it is investigating approximately 30 politically motivated killings in the lead-up to the election, a grim testament to the politicians' preference for "conquest over service." This violence has shattered families and is described as a national disgrace.

Recent controversies, including the arrest and release of the Secretary to the State Government and the freezing of Osun State's accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have only intensified public anxiety. While President Bola Tinubu intervened to halt the EFCC's actions, the damage to public trust was already done. This escalating conflict is seen not as healthy democratic competition but as a desperate struggle for power, where public office is valued over human life, leading to stalled governance, business disruption, and ordinary citizens bearing the brunt of political infighting.

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Public office is not worth a single human life, let alone dozens. Yet politicians continue to inflame passions while innocent citizens live in fear.