Reloaded News Desk
OSOGBO – The APC candidate for Osun Central Senatorial District, Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, SAN, has called for holistic, urgent and coordinated action to confront the growing threat of youth violence in Osun State, warning that the state cannot afford to allow violence, cultism and political thuggery to become normalised.
Adegoke, who described the situation as a matter requiring immediate attention from government, security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, parents and political actors, declared that “enough is enough.”
GOVERNMENT MUST CREATE OPPORTUNITIES & PATHWAY BACK
According to him, the response to youth violence must go beyond reacting after lives have been lost. Government must identify the conditions that push young people towards crime and violence and address them before they become security emergencies.
He stressed that creating meaningful economic opportunities for young people must be treated as part of the state’s security strategy.
Adegoke called for greater opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing, technology, construction, manufacturing, logistics, creative industries, sports, tourism, renewable energy and skilled trades.
He argued that a young person with a genuine opportunity to build a livelihood is less vulnerable to recruitment into violent groups, cult networks and political gangs.
He also called for a structured rehabilitation and reintegration programme for youths already involved in cultism and other forms of criminality, provided that such interventions are properly regulated and accompanied by appropriate law-enforcement measures.
OSUN MUST CONFRONT PREVALENT DRUG ABUSE
Adegoke further urged government to strengthen measures against drug abuse, warning that substance abuse can intensify violent behaviour and make vulnerable young people easier targets for criminal recruitment.
He called for stronger collaboration with relevant agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, as well as community-based prevention and rehabilitation initiatives.
CHARGES SECURITY AGENTS, POLITICAL LEADERS & SCHOOLS
On security, Adegoke said law-enforcement agencies must operate professionally, impartially and without political interference. He stressed that justice must be even-handed and that the identity or political connections of those involved in violence should not determine how the law is applied.
He also challenged political leaders to stop recruiting or encouraging young people to serve as instruments of political violence.
“Youths must not be turned into weapons for political ambitions,” he said, urging young people not to kill for politicians or surrender their future to political interests.
Adegoke also proposed the establishment of stronger community-based early-warning and mediation mechanisms to identify tensions before they escalate into violence.
He called for schools to give greater attention to conflict resolution, civic responsibility and peaceful engagement, arguing that prevention must begin before young people become involved in violent networks.
CALLS FOR PEACE & SECURITY SUMMIT
At the state level, he proposed an Osun Youth Peace and Security Summit, bringing together government, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organisations, civil society groups, schools, parents and community leaders.
The summit, he said, should produce a measurable Osun Youth Peace and Security Action Plan, with clearly defined responsibilities, timelines and mechanisms for monitoring implementation.
ADELEKE GOVERNMENT, PARENTS & COMMUNITY MUST ACT
Adegoke urged the state government to move from occasional reactions to a sustained strategy capable of addressing the economic, social and security dimensions of youth violence.
He also called on parents and community leaders to strengthen mentorship and supervision of young people, stressing that the responsibility for preventing youth violence cannot be left entirely to security agencies.
His message to young people was direct: their lives and future are worth more than the temporary rewards offered by political violence, cultism or criminal networks.
“No one should allow another person’s political ambition to become the reason for destroying his or her own future,” he said.
Adegoke warned that Osun must act before isolated incidents develop into a broader culture of violence.
The state, he said, has a responsibility to protect its young people, create pathways for them to succeed and ensure that political competition does not come at the cost of human lives.
OSUN MUST CHOOSE A DIFFERENT FUTURE
KRAD said solving youth violence would require more than a single government programme or security operation.
“It requires economic opportunity, effective policing, justice, rehabilitation, drug-abuse prevention, community intervention and responsible political leadership.
“Most importantly, it requires a change in our collective attitude.”
He appealed directly to the youths of Osun:
“Do not allow anyone to turn your future into a weapon. Do not kill for anybody. Do not die for anybody’s political ambition. Do not allow drugs or cultism to determine the direction of your life.
“Your life is more valuable than any political disagreement. Choose peace. Choose dialogue. Choose Osun.”
KRAD reaffirmed his commitment to peaceful political engagement, issue-based politics and democratic participation, saying the safety and dignity of Osun people must remain above partisan interests.
“The choice before Osun is clear.
“We can continue reacting after another young person has been killed, or we can build systems that prevent the next killing.
“Enough is enough. Osun must not become a theatre of violence.
“Our young people deserve a future and protecting that future must become everyone’s responsibility.”
Enough is enough. Osun must not become a theatre of violence. Our young people deserve a future and protecting that future must become everyone’s responsibility.
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