Editorial
NEWSCOUNT condemns in the strongest possible terms the reported utterance of Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, the serving senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, who was allegedly heard directing supporters to “kill” members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. Such a statement cannot be dismissed as ordinary campaign rhetoric, particularly coming from a serving senator and at a time when political activities in Osun are already generating considerable tension. A lawmaker who occupies such an important position should be expected to understand the seriousness of his words and the possible consequences of what he says before political supporters.
The fact that Fadahunsi represents Osun East makes the matter even more serious. Ilesa, where the controversial remarks were reportedly made, is in his senatorial district. He is therefore not simply a politician passing through the area to campaign. He is the elected representative of the people of that district, including citizens who belong to political parties other than the All Progressives Congress. Members and supporters of the Accord Party in his district are his constituents too, and their political affiliation does not make their lives or rights less important.
NEWSCOUNT will make no excuse for the senator and will not allow his explanation that he meant “kill Accord” with votes to lessen the seriousness of what was said. The word “kill” is weighty. It is not a word that a public officer should casually use when referring to members of another political party, especially during an election and in a community where lives have recently been lost. If the intention was to urge APC supporters to defeat Accord at the polls, there were many appropriate words he could have used. He chose “kill”, and that choice was reckless.
Every rational and peace-loving individual, regardless of political party affiliation, should condemn the utterance. This is not an APC, NDC, PDP or Accord Party matter. It is about the responsibility that comes with public office and the need to protect human life. Political disagreements should never be allowed to reach a point where language suggesting the killing of opponents becomes acceptable or is defended as ordinary campaign talk.
Senator Fadahunsi has crossed the Rubicon. A serving senator addressing political supporters must know that his words can influence the behaviour of those listening to him. He should therefore be particularly careful when speaking in an atmosphere already charged by political rivalry. It is one thing for party supporters to demand victory at the polls; it is another for a senator to use a word that can be understood as a threat to the lives of political opponents.
The timing of the statement makes it worse. Osun is only days away from a governorship election, while Ilesa has recently witnessed deadly violence. At a time like this, responsible political leaders should be asking their supporters to remain calm, avoid confrontation and allow the people to decide the election peacefully. The language attributed to Fadahunsi is completely at odds with that responsibility.
We therefore reject the suggestion that the matter should end with an explanation that the word was used metaphorically. There are words that should not be used carelessly by public officials, and “kill” is one of them. A senator cannot refer to political opponents in those terms and expect the public to overlook it simply because he later says that he meant electoral defeat.
Nigeria has experienced enough political violence to know the danger of inflammatory statements during elections. Too many elections have produced clashes, injuries and deaths because political differences were allowed to become personal and violent. The lesson should be clear by now: political parties must fight for votes, not encourage their supporters to see opponents as enemies. The ballot box, not violence, must determine who wins an election.
As the senator representing Osun East, Fadahunsi should have been among those urging residents and political supporters in his district to maintain peace. Instead, the statement attributed to him has placed his own senatorial district at the centre of a controversy that could have serious consequences if not properly addressed. This is a poor reflection on a man who has spent many years in public life and should understand the responsibility that comes with his position.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reportedly called for action against the senator, while the police have summoned him over the alleged remarks. The matter should now be properly investigated. If the statement is established and found to have breached the law, the appropriate legal steps should follow. His position in the Senate should not protect him from accountability, just as his political affiliation should not be used to prejudge the outcome of the investigation.
The Senate leadership should also take the matter seriously. The National Assembly cannot make laws against violence and disorder and then appear indifferent when a member is accused of using language that could encourage either. The Senate should make clear that its members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the office they occupy.
The APC should equally have no difficulty condemning the utterance if it was made as reported. Winning an election is important to every political party, but victory should never be pursued at the expense of peaceful political participation. A party that seeks the mandate of the people should also respect the right of its opponents to seek the same mandate.
Fadahunsi has been in public life long enough to know better. He is a serving senator, an experienced politician and the elected representative of Osun East. His reported utterance is therefore unbecoming of a man of his standing and unworthy of the office he occupies. The explanation that followed does not change that assessment.
The people of Osun East deserve a senator who will protect the interests of all his constituents, regardless of their political affiliation. The people of Ilesa deserve to participate in the election without fear or intimidation. Political leaders should be reassuring their supporters that disagreement at the polls is not a reason for confrontation.
NEWSCOUNT stands by its condemnation of the reported statement. We do not accept the attempt to lessen its seriousness by calling it metaphorical, and we do not excuse it because it was made during political mobilisation. Public office comes with responsibility, and those who occupy such offices must accept the consequences when their words fall below the standard expected of them.
Senator Fadahunsi has crossed the Rubicon. His position as a senator and representative of Osun East makes the matter too serious to be dismissed with a verbal clarification. The relevant authorities should investigate the statement and, where a breach of the law is established, take the necessary action. The Senate leadership and the APC should also make it clear that political ambition does not justify language capable of putting the lives of political opponents at risk. At this point, Senator Fadahunsi owes the people of Osun, particularly his constituents in Osun East, a much higher standard of conduct than what his reported utterance represents.
