The leading political organisation in Osun State, Omoluabi Progressives, has accused political actors of an attempt to silence leading voices in its camp with the re-arrest of one its members and social media activist, Qomarudeen Oladepo, popularly known as Adabanija.
Osun Defender had reported that Adabanija, who was re-arrested by operatives of the Osun State Police Command on Tuesday on allegations of alleged defamation against the Minster of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
In a statement on Wednesday, Abosede Oluwaseun, Organising and Publicity Secretary, Omoluabi Progressives, the tendency berated the development, saying those responsible for Adabanija’s re-arrest were out to gag opposing voices, especially to scare him off social media.
Oluwaseun added that the strategy of those who had earlier incarcerated him in police custody for five days earlier last month is to hoodwink perceived political enemies with state actors.
He urged members of the public to strengthen calls for Adabanija’s release without any condition.
READ: Adabanija: Over 10 People Arrested For Allegedly Criticising Oyetola
The FULL STATEMENT:
Release ADABANIJA now !
The Omoluabi Progressives wish to inform the general public of the seeming deliberate incarceration of Hon. Qomaeudeen Oladepo, popularly known as Adabanija, a member of our political tendency and social media activist.
Adabanija, who was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday, was just bereaved last Thursday, shortly after a 5-day police detention last month.
The police had arrested and detained Adabanija on the strength of a Facebook post over a piece of incorrect information at his disposal then, which he has pulled down and apologised for. Yesterday’s arrest by the police was said to be about a Facebook post on Monday, November 11, where he regurgitated what the Osun State government, through its organs, had said about the nonpayment of outstanding modulated salary.
READ: FLASH: Police Re-Arrest Aregbesola’s Loyalist, Adabanija
Adabanija had written, “Payment of backlogs of modulated salary: Governor Ademola Adeleke is doing wonderfully well, unlike Oyetola, who refused to pay.”
We are well aware of the letters and spirit of the social media law, and we just can’t find where the above could amount to an offence that warrants arrest and/or detention. We suspect an attempt at harassing and intimidating Adabanija by his accusers, who are using mailable security agents to scare him off the social media circuit where he has been a thorn in the flesh of his traducers.
Pettiness is in the characters of Adabanija’s traducers to fight in a “do or die” manner for whatever little issue they can latch on to with their considered enemies.
We call on the “willing to do evil” elements who are available within the police force to back off and discourage the members of the public from seeing the police in an undeserved light.
The Omoluabi Progressives condemn in strong terms this act of political intimidation aimed at suppressing Hon. Adabanija from making his usual contributions on social media.
We additionally call on all men of goodwill, especially civil societies, to start intervening now before it becomes a monster that will start to ravage everyone.
It is Adabanija today. Who will be the next target of the political minnows who are power mongers; using every hideous tactic to get at their supposed enemies is not known.
Everybody should raise their voice against those whose only strategy in politics is to browbeat their way to power.
We are therefore calling for the immediate release of our man, Adabanija Kamarodueen without any condition attached.
Abosede Oluwaseun
Organising and Publicity Secretary
Omoluabi Progressives
13th Nov. 2024.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
