Osun LG crisis: Obey Appeal Court judgment – APC tells Gov Adeleke

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The governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, has been urged by the Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to abide by the recent Court of Appeal ruling that reinstated the state’s fired council chairmen and council members.

The governor’s response was criticized by the party, which called it an attempt to weaken the courts and encouraged him to stop playing the victim.

Tajudeen Lawal, the state chairman of the APC, voiced concerns over the state government’s response to the decision during a press conference in Osogbo on Sunday.

He insisted that the ruling was unambiguous and need to be followed immediately, cautioning against any measures that would spark sociopolitical turmoil.

“We have invited you today to discuss the recent judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal concerning the sacked elected council officials. Their mandate has been rightfully restored, and Governor Adeleke must act in accordance with the law,” Lawal stated.

The APC leader counseled Adeleke to safeguard the reinstated officials instead of attempting to win over the public.

He emphasized that the problem was constitutional in nature and should not be swayed by political maneuvering or sentiment.

“As a responsible party, we have remained law-abiding, pursuing every legal avenue to ensure justice prevails. This is not the time for political games but for strict adherence to the rule of law,” Lawal added.

Adeleke’s administration was accused by APC State Legal Adviser Barrister Adegoke Ogunsola of misinterpreting the court’s decision.

He said that the governor and his staff were trying to slant the ruling in favor of their political agenda.

Adeleke’s comments against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, were also denounced by Ogunsola.

He rejected the governor’s allegation that Oyetola was influencing law enforcement by abusing his connection to the president.

“The Governor erroneously assumed the role of the judiciary by attempting to interpret the judgment in his favour. His accusations against Oyetola and Tinubu are baseless and should be ignored by the public,” Ogunsola said.

He urged the Inspector General of Police and other security forces to stop tensions from escalating as a result of false information propagated by the state government.

Adeleke was also asked to respect the law by former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Adebayo Adeleke Banik, and former Special Advisor to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola Jamiu Olawumi.

They urged the governor to put peace and adherence to the law first, warning that he would be held accountable if the situation caused political or civil upheaval in the state.

In a global news conference on Sunday, Governor Ademola Adeleke warned of a purported plot by former governor and current Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola t forcefully take over local government councils.

He asserted that the state’s peace and stability were under danger because security personnel were being directed to carry out a fictitious command.

Adeleke called the scenario “a deliberate plot to create chaos and anarchy” and maintained that two different Federal High Court rulings invalidated the 2022 local government election that elected the impacted chairmen.

“The request for reinstatement was declared an academic exercise by the Court of Appeal. No consequential order was given,” he stated.

However, Adeleke rejected these charges as a last-ditch effort to undermine democracy.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to step in and tell security forces to disregard any unlawful orders from Oyetola.

“Mr President is a democrat and will never authorise an unconstitutional takeover,” the governor said.

Additionally, the governor charged Oyetola with manipulating state security forces by abusing his position as Tinubu’s nephew.

In addition, the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, or NLC, issued a directive on Sunday for its members employed in local government secretariats throughout the state to cease work as of today (Monday) because of political instability.

The NLC expressed concerns for the safety of its members in a statement issued by Dr. Christopher Arapasopo, its chairman, in light of the current hostilities between the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, and Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.

In its statement, the NLC called on security agencies to maintain calm in the state and encouraged all political parties to uphold the rule of law.

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Osun State branch joined the NLC and instructed its members throughout the state to cease their employment immediately.

All local government secretariat gates shall be closed until additional instructions are given, according to a statement signed by its State President, Dr. Nathaniel Kehinde Intangible, on Sunday, February 16, 2025.

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