ABUJA— THE National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, yesterday, described the presidential declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, urging Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to take a cue from Rivers as a “state of emergency may also be apposite.”
Basiru, who noted that there has been a breakdown of law and order, said Rivers was already becoming a failed state.
He urged Governor Adeleke of Osun State to allow the court reinstated local government councils to operate.
He said: “It is a welcome positive decision from President Bola Tinubu to restore law and order to Rivers State which was already becoming a failed state with negative consequences on the citizens of the state.
“It is disheartening that both the executive and legislative arms of Rivers state had abdicated their constitutional responsibilities of securing the welfare and security of the people of Rivers state in the quest for a fight to finish political brigandage.
“It is hoped that the Osun Governor takes a cue from this development and allow the court reinstated local government councils to operate as otherwise a state of emergency may also be apposite.”
ALGON recognises reinstated Osun LG chairmen
Meanwhile, following the crisis that rocked local government secretariats in Osun State over its control, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, yesterday, recognised the reinstated council officials.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have been locked in a supremacy battle over control of the council.
However, ALGON in a letter by its Acting Director-General, Mrs Evan Ekekwe and National President, Engr. Bello Lawal, stated that having followed the development in the state, it decided to recognise the reinstated officials as the legal officers.
While condemning the wanton destruction of property and loss of lives that accompanied the local government crisis in the state, ALGON disclosed its readiness to abide by the rule of law.
The statement reads: “ALGON is law-abiding Association that believes in the rule of law and consequently will uphold the decision of the Court of Appeal which reinstated you and your peers as the legal Council Chairmen in Osun State.
“ALGON will recognize you as such. However, we plead caution, tolerance and maturity in navigating the precarious situation.
“ALGON’s leadership will reach out to the leadership of NULGE to seek their intervention and appeal to Local Government staff in Osun State to resume their lawful duties.”
Confirming the letter, the ALGON chairman in Osun State, Mr Abiodun Idowu, pleaded with workers across the councils to resume their duty posts in the state’s interest.
Idowu said: “We have received a copy of a letter from ALGON recognising us as legal executives of the Osun State councils, we are currently talking to NULGE on the need for the workers to resume their duties posts.
“On the issue of rumoured settlement from Osun State Government to our members, we are not aware of it and we have no business of negotiating with anyone as we have been legally reinstated already.”
