By Our Reporter
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing political crisis in the state, urging the rule of law to prevail. The dispute arises from the non-reinstatement of local government chairmen and councilors, who were elected in the 2022 local government elections but were dismissed following an Appeal Court ruling brought by the opposition Action People’s Party (APP).
Adeleke has accused his predecessor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, of undermining the court’s decision by allegedly instructing security agencies to reinstate the dismissed officials, all of whom are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor claims that Oyetola has been allegedly issuing illegal directives to the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Commander General of the Civil Defence Corps to disregard the court order.
In a public statement, Adeleke expressed concern over the potential for unrest, saying, “The Nigerian public should hold Mr. Gboyega Oyetola and the Osun State security chiefs responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the state.” He further warned that Oyetola’s actions could lead to violence, particularly with the Minister allegedly using his connection to President Tinubu to influence security forces. Adeleke stressed, “We call on men and women of goodwill to intervene before it is too late.”
The governor expressed regret that Oyetola was allegedly orchestrating chaos in Osun State, accusing him of “brazen effrontery” in attempting to reinstate the sacked local government officials. He clarified that the councilors were dismissed under the rulings of two different judges in Osogbo even before Adeleke assumed office as governor.
In response, Oyetola vehemently denied the accusations, stating that his record did not support such claims. He rejected the allegations and called them baseless. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has vowed to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that justice is served.
The unfolding political tension in Osun State has raised concerns about the potential for further instability, and all eyes are on the President to mediate in this highly charged dispute.