Tension in Osun as APC Demands Adeleke Obeys Court Order

Members of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State have urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to obey the recent Appeal Court judgment reinstating council chairmen and councillors sacked in the state.

While criticising the governor’s reaction, the APC stated that this was an attempt to discredit the judiciary and urged him to stop playing victim.

APC State Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, at a press conference in Osogbo on Sunday, expressed concern about the state government’s response to the ruling.

“This calls for actions that may lead to sociopolitical unrest; the judgment is clear and must be followed,” he maintained.

“Today, we have called you to discuss the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the sacked elected council officials. Their mandate has, in truth, been restored, and the governor must obey the law. ”

Lawal stated that the APC also advised Adeleke to stop courting public sympathy and instead ensure the reinstatement officials’ safety.

Pointing out that the issue at hand was constitutional and should be kept free of emotions or political machinations.

“We are a responsible party that has kept the law. We have taken every legal step to make sure justice prevails. This is no longer the time for politicking but for obeying the rule of law,” added Lawal.

The APC State Legal Adviser, Barrister Adegoke Ogunsola, accused the Adeleke administration of misinterpreting the court ruling.

He claimed the governor and his aides were trying to twist the judgment to favour their political ends.

Ogunsola also condemned Adeleke’s attack on the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He dismissed the governor’s claim that Oyetola was using his closeness with the president to influence law enforcement agencies.

“The governor thought he was sitting in the judiciary, trying to interpret the judgment in his favour. His utterances against Oyetola and Tinubu are meaningless and should be disregarded by the public,” he said.

He also called on the security agencies led by the Inspector General of Police to nip in the bud any situation that may erupt because of misinformation being peddled by the state government.

Accordingly, Lawal stated that the former Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Adebayo Adeleke Banik, and former Special Adviser to ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola Jamiu Olawumi also admonished Adeleke to respect the rule of law.

According to them, the governor would be made to answer if it resulted in political or civil unrest in the state and urged him to take seriously the preemption of peace and legal compliance.

During a worldwide press conference held on Sunday, the governor, Ademola Adeleke, issued warnings regarding an though alleged overt plan by the former governor now Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to take over the local government councils by force.

He said that the security operatives were being ordered to proceed with an action of non-existing judgment, thus putting the peace and stability of the state at stake.

The governor described it as “deliberate plot to create chaos and anarchy,” stating that two separate Federal High Court judgments nullified the 2022 local government election from which the chairmen in question emerged.

“The request for reinstatement was declared an academic exercise by the Court of Appeal. There was no consequential order,” he said.

But he further described these allegations as a desperate attempt to subvert democracy.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to step in and direct the security agencies to ignore any illegal orders from Oyetola.

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

The governor went on to allege that Oyetola, as Tinubu’s nephew, had used that privilege to lure state security forces into compliance.

Also on Sunday, the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, directed its members working in local government secretariats throughout the state to withdraw their services today (Monday) due to apprehension for political unrest.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Dr Christopher Arapasopo, the NLC cited fears for the safety of its members due to increasing tension between the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke and that of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.

In its statement, the NLC urged all political parties to respect the rule of law and called upon security agencies to ensure the peace of the state.

Joining in the call, the Osun State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, directed all its members statewide to withdraw services starting today (Monday).