Tensions are rising in Osun State as Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress (APC) trade accusations over an alleged plot to destabilize the state following a court ruling on the local government crisis.
At a press conference on Sunday, Governor Adeleke accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, of collaborating with security agencies to enforce a court order reinstating local government chairmen and councillors elected under the APC. Adeleke described the move as an attempt to incite unrest in the state, allegedly leveraging Oyetola’s close ties to President Bola Tinubu.
“I called this press conference to alert the national and global audience about a deliberate plot to create chaos and anarchy in Osun State,” Adeleke stated. “I invite you all to expose a fascist, anti-democratic agenda designed to enforce a non-existent court judgment on our local governments.”
The governor argued that the court ruling lacked a consequential directive and could not override a previous judgment that led to the removal of the officials before he assumed office.
“The bone of contention is the brazen effrontery to reinstate council chairmen sacked by a subsisting court judgment using a different court decision, which has no consequential order. Let me make it clear that these officials were removed before I was sworn in as governor, contrary to claims that they were dismissed by my Executive Order,” Adeleke added.
Adeleke urged the Federal Government, the judiciary, and the public to intervene before the situation escalates, insisting that President Tinubu would not support any unconstitutional act that threatens peace in Osun State.
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In response, the Osun APC dismissed Adeleke’s allegations as an attempt to evade legal procedures. The party’s spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, advised the governor to approach the Supreme Court if he was dissatisfied with the Court of Appeal’s judgment.
Olabisi denied that Oyetola had issued any illegal directives to security agencies, accusing Adeleke of resorting to blackmail instead of pursuing legal avenues.
“Oyetola has not instructed anyone, including security chiefs, on how to do their job. Adeleke should know that blackmail or sentiment will not change the court’s decision,” Olabisi stated.
He argued that the APC-led local government officials were unjustly removed in 2022 and had now been lawfully reinstated through the courts.
“The court has spoken, and those affected by Adeleke’s actions have been left out in the cold for too long. Now that justice has been served, as the leader of the Osun APC, Oyetola is committed to ensuring the ruling is implemented,” Olabisi added.
The APC spokesperson emphasized that the party would remain law-abiding but would also ensure that the court’s verdict was upheld.
“The Court of Law has spoken, and the verdict must be obeyed. So, he should stop this blackmail because that will not work here. As for us in APC, we will remain law-abiding, but we won’t sleep on our right,” Olabisi concluded.
The escalating war of words between Adeleke and the APC has left Osun State on edge, with fears of political instability looming. As both sides dig in, the situation highlights the deepening divide in the state’s political landscape and raises concerns about the rule of law and democratic governance.
The coming days will be critical as stakeholders await further developments and potential interventions to prevent the crisis from spiraling out of control.
