
On August 10, 2024, Kunle Ajayi Wiseman, the governorship candidate of the Allied Action Congress (AAC), along with other protesters, was arrested in Akure.
They have since been moved from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) to the Anti-Cultism Department of the Nigeria Police Force’s Ondo State Command. This transfer comes as part of further profiling and investigation, sparked by concerns that the TIB Movementās orange beret cap, worn by the protesters, bears a resemblance to the beret associated with the Aye Confraternity.
In recent developments, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa of Ondo State has adopted a red beret as his campaign insignia. The governor and his supporters have been frequently seen wearing the red beret at various events, with police protection ensuring the safety of these gatherings. The contrast in treatment between the governorās supporters and the arrested protesters has drawn significant attention.
The police have stated that the protesters are not being detained for their political demonstrations but are under investigation for alleged cultism-related offenses due to the beret they wore. Consequently, the protesters have been transferred to the Anti-Cultism Department for a thorough examination of their affiliations and activities.
In light of these developments, Tope Temokun, a lawyer and human rights activist, has called for the same scrutiny to be applied to Governor Ayedatiwa. Temokun argues that if the protesters are being investigated for cultism based on their choice of beret, then the governor should also be subject to similar questioning and profiling for his campaignās red beret. Temokun asserts, “What is good for the goose is good for the gander.”
This call for equal treatment highlights ongoing tensions and concerns about fairness in the handling of political and security matters in Ondo State.
Tope Temokun
Lawyer and Human Rights Activist
August 11, 2024