Wole Oke Denies Link To Osun Rally Killing, Demands Probe

A member of the House of Representatives and Director-General of the Osun State Governorship Campaign Council, Oluwole Oke, has denied allegations linking him and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the killing of an Accord Party member, Ajayi Aderogba, popularly known as Rogba.

Naija News understands that Aderogba was shot dead on Tuesday in Esa Oke, Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, during preparations for a political rally in support of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s second-term bid.

The spokesperson for the Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Pelumi Olajengbesi, had in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday, accused Oke of being behind the attack that led to Aderogba’s death.

Olajengbesi alleged that the federal lawmaker had made efforts to frustrate the planned political event in the community.

“Just yesterday, while we were preparing for a political programme in Esa Oke, Wole Oke made several efforts to frustrate the programme and prevent it from holding,” he alleged.

He described the deceased as a committed supporter of Governor Adeleke and the Accord Party.

However, Oke, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Tunde Omolebi-Sunday, dismissed the allegation as false and misleading.

The lawmaker expressed shock and sadness over Aderogba’s death and extended condolences to the deceased’s family, friends and residents of Esa Oke.

He said attempts to link him or the APC to the incident were unfair, unsubstantiated and capable of worsening political tension in the community.

The statement also criticised Olajengbesi for making what it described as unverified allegations before the conclusion of investigations by security agencies.

“Such conclusions, made without any credible investigation or report from security agencies, are not only premature but deeply irresponsible. As a legal practitioner, he ought to understand the primacy of evidence, due process, and responsible public communication,” the statement said.

Oke maintained that neither he nor the APC had any connection with the incident.

He called on security agencies to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing.

“We therefore firmly state that Hon. Oluwole Oke and the APC have no connection whatsoever to the death of Ajayi Rogba. Any attempt to link them to this tragic occurrence without substantiated evidence is false, misleading, and must be rejected,” the statement added.

According to the statement, preliminary accounts from the community suggested that the incident may have stemmed from clashes involving rival groups, with indications of possible reprisal attacks.

It, however, stressed that only a proper investigation by security agencies could establish the facts of the matter.

Oke urged the police and other relevant authorities to investigate the killing professionally and bring those responsible to justice.

He also appealed to political actors, residents and stakeholders in the state to allow security agencies to carry out their duties without interference.

The lawmaker warned against statements capable of escalating tension, adding that the death of a citizen should not be politicised.

The statement further urged all stakeholders to respect due process and avoid reducing a matter involving loss of life to a political weapon.

It added that matters of life and death should not be trivialised or turned into tools for political attacks, while calling on residents to recommit themselves to peace, truth and lawful engagement.