Barrister Khalid Balogun, Esq., has condemned an alleged statement attributed to Senator Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, during a political engagement in Ilesa, Osun State, describing the alleged remark as disturbing and potentially capable of heightening political tension ahead of the election.
According to Khalid, a video circulating from the event appears to capture Senator Fadahunsi making a statement to the effect that, from that moment, wherever members of the Accord Party were seen, they should be killed.
Khalid stressed that if the video is authentic and accurately reflects the senatorโs words and the context in which they were made, the allegation should not be dismissed as ordinary political rhetoric.
He noted that Senator Fadahunsi subsequently appeared on Channels Television in an interview with Seun Okinbaloye, where he reportedly explained the controversial statement as meaning that Accord Party members should be โkilled with votes.โ
Khalid, however, argued that the explanation appears inconsistent with the words allegedly captured in the earlier video.
โFadahunsi can lie for Africa, but video evidence does not lie. If the video is authentic and has not been edited or taken out of context, Nigerians can listen to the exact words for themselves and make an informed judgment,โ Khalid said.
He maintained that political disagreements must not degenerate into threats, intimidation or language that could reasonably be interpreted as encouraging violence against political opponents.
According to him, elections are contests of ideas, policies, votes and democratic legitimacy, not battles in which political opponents should be treated as enemies to be physically eliminated.
Khalid, therefore, called on the relevant authorities, political parties, civil society organisations and the media to examine the complete, unedited video and establish the exact context in which the alleged statement was made.
He further stressed that no individual, regardless of political position or affiliation, should be above accountability where credible evidence indicates that inflammatory or threatening statements may have been made.
โThe issue is not about twisting words after the fact. Let the original video speak. Let Nigerians watch it, hear the words and judge the matter for themselves.
Where there is evidence suggesting a criminal threat, the appropriate authorities should investigate the matter in accordance with the law,โ he said.
Khalid urged political actors and their supporters across Osun State to exercise restraint, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could have serious consequences in an already politically charged environment.
He concluded by urging all political parties to conduct their campaigns peacefully and to remember that political opponents should be defeated through superior arguments, policies and votesโnot threats, intimidation or violence.
From Ikirun Agunbe-Onile Obi
