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Tag: Gov. Adeleke

  • Ifon/Ilobu crisis: Adeleke extends curfew to 24 hours

    Ifon/Ilobu crisis: Adeleke extends curfew to 24 hours

    Following the raging communal clash between Ifon and Ilobu communities, the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared a 24-hour curfew in two local government areas of the state.

    The communities have been at loggerheads with each other over land disputes which resulted in killings and razing of houses. On Friday, three people were reportedly killed including an ex-councillor. Several people sustained gunshot wounds leading to the displacement of women and children in the area.

    Osun State Government, in a statement on Saturday through the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, said: “Adeleke has approved that the curfew be extended to Erin-Osun town. The curfew time is now 24 hours daily.”

    “Governor directs all security agencies such as the Military, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp NSCDC, Immigration, NDLEA, and Amotekun among others to extend its security surveillance to the community.

    “All the security agencies are to ensure strict compliance to the curfew, which is now 24 hours daily until peace is restored. The imposed curfew was necessary to forestall escalation of the crisis and breakdown of law and order due to the communal clashes in the communities.”

    Similarly, in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke assured the people of Ilobu and Ifon communities that speedy conflict resolution steps are being taken to restore peace even as he directed the emergency services agency to activate its operations

    The governor said his administration has re-strategised on resolving the conflict with multiple peacebuilding options which are being unveiled and implemented.

    “I assure the people of Ilobu and Ifon that I am committed to securing their lives and properties. I have updated the presidency of development in the state. We are on top of the situation,” the governor said.

    “Meanwhile, we seek to bring to the attention of the public that old videos of communal conflicts in some parts of Osun state are being circulated by opposition elements to spread false pictures of insecurity in Osun state.

    “While the ongoing conflict is regrettable and while all hands are on deck to stop the violence, we inform the public to take note of the activities of fake news merchants who are digging up old videos to discredit the state government.

    “The videos being circulated of violence in other towns and villages in Osun are fake news and should be disregarded by the members of the public.”

  • State of Emergency: Take a cue from Rivers or…, APC scribe tells Gov Adeleke

    State of Emergency: Take a cue from Rivers or…, APC scribe tells Gov Adeleke

    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.”

  • Osun LG: Adeleke, APC lock horns over planned crisis

    Osun LG: Adeleke, APC lock horns over planned crisis

    OSOGBO —FOLLOWING the local government area elections conducted last Saturday, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State, yesterday, accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of plotting to foment trouble in the state.

    This came as elected Chairmen and Councillors on the platform of the APC resumed in some local government council secretariats despite the withdrawal of services by workers.

    Similarly, the newly inaugurated chairmen and councillors elected on the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, last Saturday, stayed away from the secretariats in line with the directive of Governor Adeleke after their inauguration on Sunday.

    On his part, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Osun State, Mr Christopher Arapasopo, yesterday, directed its members working in the various councils to withdraw their services.

    You’re plotting big crisis, APC accuses Adeleke

    The APC, in a statement by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi alleged that Governor Adeleke has concluded plans to attack the legally-reinstated chairmen and councillors through Amotekun Corps and non-state actors imported from Oyo State and the Niger Delta.

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    Olabisi said: “These militants are the same criminals notorious for kidnapping people for ransom in their region, and they have now been drafted to the state to unleash terror on our people.

    “To provide cover for this sinister move is the Amotekun Corps, led by a controversial ex-police officer and former Chief Security Officer to Governor Ademola Adeleke, CSP Adekunle Omoyele (retd). The men of the Amotekun Corps are to provide hooded clothes and masks to hide their identities and escape justice after perpetrating their evil acts.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we urge the security agents to visit the official quarters of some top government officials at the Government House as at the time of issuing this press statement, it would be discovered that the mini-field of the building is bubbling like a military training ground with the amalgamation of suspected cultists, hoodlums and militants drawn from outside the state.

    “We decided to raise this alarm based on our ugly experience last week.”

    Gov has ensured peace  — Spokesperson

    In a swift reaction, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed in a statement, described the APC’s allegations as baseless, saying the governor has so far ensured that peace reigned in the state.

    Rasheed said: “From the beginning of the face-off, the state Governor, being a security expert and a criminologist, had deployed his skills of conflict resolution to sustain peace even with the worst of provocations. The mapping of the entire state revealed that the opposition APC was mainly interested in burning the state down and destroying the elected political structures. Mr Governor smartly denied the APC the fuel for its arsonistic plan.

    “The outcome is the peace we are enjoying today in Osun state. Osun people are peacefully running their lives with huge gratitude to the Governor. The APC on the contrary is in severe pain for all its destructive plans against Osun and her people have failed.

    “So the opposition resorted to blackmail and name-calling. Neither the visiting governors nor any government officials imported any hoodlums into the state. Governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Muhammed came to Osun on a solidarity peace mission based on their statutory positions within the Governors’ Forum and their message was that parties to the face-off should abide by the rule of law and avoid illegal self-help.”

    APC council officials resume at secretariats

    Meanwhile, elected APC Chairmen and Councillors, yesterday, resumed in some council secretariats despite the withdrawal of services by workers.

    Similarly, the newly inaugurated PDP chairmen and councillors elected last Saturday stayed away from the secretariats in line with Governor Adeleke’s directive.

    The APC and PDP have been battling over the control of council areas following judgements of a Federal High Court and Appeal Court.

    However, checks by Vanguard showed that chairmen and Councillors, elected on the APC platform, resumed at the secretariats in many council areas; including Olorunda, Ife-Central, Boluwaduro and Ejigbo among others.

    When contacted a chieftain of the APC, Mr Jamiu Olawumi said: “All chairmen and councillors have resumed in all local government areas in Osun State including Irewole.

    “The security is tight; we have responsible police officers, DSS and Civil Defence. They are doing their jobs as directed by the Inspector General of Police.”

    When TodayPriceNG visited some council secretariats, police operatives were visible to avert a possible crisis.

    NLC to LG workers: Don’t resume work

    Meanwhile, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Osun State, Mr Christopher Arapasopo has directed council workers to withdraw their services.

    Arapasopo, in a statement, said the union would not jeopardise the safety of its members.

    The statement reads: “The Osun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, strongly affirms her earlier release notifying all Local Government Area Workers in the State to withdraw their services as a result of the political upheaval within their workplaces still subsist while continuing in their prayers for the state.

    “This release further reiterates that our members’ safety at work is of high priority and we will not allow our members to work in an atmosphere of insecurity.

    “The Osun State Council of the NLC remains resolute in its commitment to defending the rights and interests of workers and the masses. We shall not be cowed or intimidated by these desperate attempts to silence us. We stand firm in our resolve to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law in our beloved state.”

  • LG polls: Adeleke, APC scribe bicker over planned violence

    LG polls: Adeleke, APC scribe bicker over planned violence

    OSOGBO — GOVERNOR Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, yesterday, accused opposition political parties of attempting to cause trouble ahead of the local government election.

    The Governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, disclosed that his administration would not condone any act of violence in the state.

    He noted that security operatives have been alerted to curb anyone attempting to cause violence in the state.

    Adeleke said: “We are highly educated in Osun State. Our literacy level is at an all-time high. This is not a state where residents can be lied to. They read and digest court rulings and political subjects without being hoodwinked. I urge our people to get prepared for February 22. It is an opportunity to vote for your preferred council chairmen and councillors.

    “We are a nation governed by law. The judiciary, it has been said recently, is the harbinger of hope. We must avoid misrepresentation and misinformation about court processes. We have a sacred duty to avoid fake news. It is an offence punishable under the law.

    “We have credible reports of plots by elements within the opposition to foment crisis in Osun state. I warn those plotting such evil to desist because of its grave consequences. As the Chief Security Officer of this state, I have directed security agencies to deal decisively with any promoter of violence within the context of the rule of law. We will not allow this state to be plunged into a baseless conflict.

    “Democracy is about ballot papers, not guns and cutlass. Go to the poll on the 22nd. Make your preference known peacefully. Osun is a bastion of democracy. We are ready as we can defend our democratic heritage.”

    Osun govt inciting violence — Basiru, APC scribe

    Reacting, the National Secretary of the APC, Dr Ajibola Basiru described the Governor’s statement as an act of intimidation and an attempt to harass the validly elected council officials.

    He, however, said legal means would be explored in ensuring the judgment is enforced.

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    Basiru said: “The Court of Appeal’s decision explicitly affirms the illegality of the dissolution of the democratically elected local government councils in Osun State. The judgment has no ambiguity whatsoever, and any attempt to distort this clear judicial pronouncement amounts to executive lawlessness, which has no place in a democratic society.

    “This is to remind the Osun State government that Nigeria is governed by the rule of law and not by executive fiat through illegal executive orders. Any attempt to frustrate the enforcement of this judgment will be met with appropriate legal responses. The relevant security agencies must ensure that the democratically elected officials have their lawful rights respected and protected against intimidation or harassment by the Osun State government. The validly elected councils now vindicated by the judgment should take every lawful step to give effect to the judgment by resuming office forthwith.

    “I call on the Osun State Government to stop all actions intended to impede the course of justice and act within full adherence to the court’s judgment.”