Osun Explodes: Fierce Battle Over LG Funds Rocks State, Threatens Stability

Published 5 days ago3 minute read
Pelumi Ilesanmi
Pelumi Ilesanmi
Osun Explodes: Fierce Battle Over LG Funds Rocks State, Threatens Stability

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has strongly rejected recent calls for a declaration of a state of emergency in the state, labeling them as politically motivated attempts to destabilize democratic governance. The governor, through his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, stated that the demand, reportedly from unnamed civil society groups, was an orchestrated move by opposition figures, specifically leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to create unrest rather than address genuine security concerns. He asserted that the calls were not rooted in the prevailing realities but were instead connected to ongoing political disputes concerning the management and control of local government councils.

Governor Adeleke accused the opposition of previously paralyzing local government administration through forceful occupation of council secretariats and interfering with statutory funds meant for grassroots development. Such actions, he claimed, were designed to provoke tension, which would then be attributed to his administration to justify external intervention. Despite these provocations, the Adeleke administration maintains that peace has largely been preserved across the state through restraint, adherence to the rule of law, and continuous engagement with security agencies.

The governor reiterated that the demand for a state of emergency lacked factual or legal basis, insisting that Osun State remains peaceful with the government firmly in control of the security situation. He argued that the local government crisis originated from certain officials' refusal to vacate office after their tenure expired, alongside illegal attempts to unilaterally extend their terms. Furthermore, the administration accused opposition figures of blocking access to council funds, which necessitated state government intervention to ensure workers' salaries were paid, highlighting that the state stepped in when local government workers were abandoned.

Governor Adeleke has received commendations for his lawful handling of the situation and issued a warning against further attempts to incite violence. He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police has been directed to closely monitor developments and thwart any plots to plunge the state into conflict. He also appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police to take note of the situation, emphasizing that political ambitions must be pursued through legitimate electoral processes, not unconstitutional means. Meanwhile, two civil society groups, the Initiative for Local Government Development and the Centre for Justice and Community Advocacy, had indeed called for President Tinubu to consider a state of emergency, citing the state government's alleged disregard for court orders on local government administration, ongoing impasse, loss of lives, and a looming crisis.

In response to these developments, the Osun State chapter of the APC, through its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, alleged that the state government deliberately misrepresented facts regarding federal funds for reinstated council executives. The APC claimed that comments made by Commissioner for Information Kolapo Alimi during a radio program were a

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