Nigerian music star Davido has retracted his earlier criticism of the Osun State Commissioner of Police over the handling of the recent crisis in the state.
Earlier, the Afrobeat singer had strongly condemned the police commissioner, accusing him of failing to maintain law and order following violent clashes that led to multiple deaths. His initial reaction was fueled by frustration over what he saw as a lack of adequate response from security agencies.
However, in a new statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Davido admitted that after reviewing the situation, he now sees that the police commissioner and other security officials made genuine efforts to manage the unrest.
The singer explained that his earlier outburst was an emotional reaction to the tragic loss of lives in the state. He noted that, at the time, he did not fully understand the difficult work being done behind the scenes to control the violence.
“In memories of the innocent souls lost, human emotions overwhelmed me and many of my friends around. We did not know the Commissioner of Police had been having sleepless nights alongside other commanders.
At this point, the contributions of the police commissioner were not fully appreciated by me. This is a grave oversight and I want to declare that his support for rule of law and protection of peace in Osun state is hereby acknowledged and appreciated,” Davido stated.
The singer went on to commend the commissioner’s dedication and urged security agencies to step up their efforts in preventing further violence. With local government elections approaching on February 22, 2025, Davido stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in Osun State.
“In memory of the dead and the injured, I urge the security agencies including the Commissioner of Police to redouble their efforts to sustain peace. We must allow rule of law to prevail,” he added.
He also pointed out that ensuring a smooth and secure electoral process would be a major achievement for both security personnel and political leaders.
Davido concluded by expressing his best wishes to the police commissioner and other security officials as they continue working to address security challenges in the state.
