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Tag: Osun crisis

  • Reps to investigate Osun crisis

    Reps to investigate Osun crisis

    The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the crisis in Osun State, which has led to the killing of about six persons, leaving several others injured.

    In a resolution at plenary session, following a motion by the nine lawmakers from Osun State in the House, the House asked the Inspector General of Police to restore order to the state, to forestall further loss of lives and property.

    The House resolved to set up a special ad hoc committee to conduct investigation into the cause of the crisis.

    The motion is sponsored by Bamidele Salam, Oke Busayo Oluwole, Ajilesoro Taofeek Abimbola, Omirin Emmanuel Olusanya, Oladebo Lanre Alomoleye, Adewale Morufu Adebayo, Mudashiru Lukman Alani, Akanni Clement Ademola and Adetunji Abidemi Olusoji, all members of the PDP.

    Moving the motion on behalf of others, Bamidele Salam, who is also the leader of the Osun caucus in the House, informed members that on Monday 17th of February 2025, violence broke out in several parts of Osun State as a result of attempt to take over the administration of local governments by officials who were sacked by court judgement in November 2022.

    According to him, the sacked officials are now breaking the gates of their respective local government secretariats to forcefully take over the government of the local government without any court order.

    Read Also: Reps to investigate Osun crisis, ask IGP to restore order

    Salam disclosed that the Governor of Osun State as the Chief Security Officer of the state had raised the alarm on Sunday the 16th of February about an imminent threat to peace and security in the state, while calling on the Inspector General of Police and other heads of security formations to take proactive steps to forestall the violence.

    He said if the current trend of resort to self-help by political actors was not nipped in the bud, it might encourage citizens to do same in the face of perceived rights and privileges.

    He expressed fear that the present situation in Osun State may snowball into a free for all, unless urgent actions are taken by relevant authorities.

    He said the preventable violence, which happened in Osun, had led to the death of six persons, while scores of others suffered severe injuries and presently receiving treatment in hospitals.

    He said if prompt action was not taken against this lawlessness and arbitrariness, it might escalate into a more serious security challenges in Osun State.

  • Osun NASS caucus to Tinubu: direct NSA, IGP to restore order

    Osun NASS caucus to Tinubu: direct NSA, IGP to restore order

    The Osun state caucus in the National Assembly on Monday asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the National Security Adviser and the Inspector General of Police to immediately restore law and order in Osun State. 

    The caucus cautioned against allowing a breakdown of law and order in the state and allowing political thugs to threaten the relative peace existing in the state.

    Addressing newsmen on behalf of the caucus, the leader of the Osun caucus in the House of Representatives,  Bamidele Salam said the President should also ask the President to properly advise the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state on the futility of trying to forcefully take over local government councils in the state.

    He argued that the Court of Appeal judgment on the appeal by the APC against the judgment of the High Court on the sacking of elected local government Chairmen in the state which the party is holding onto APC did not make any consequential pronouncement.

    Read Also: I survived six gunshots, says Charles Okocha

    He explained that aside from the Appeal Court decision nullifying the judgment of the lower court in the appeal against the PDP, the appellate court dismissed a similar suit filed by the APC in the judgment of the lower court’s decision in the suit by the Action Peoples Party because the APC abandoned the case. 

    He alleged that relying on the Appeal Court judgment, the elected former council chairmen whose election was nullified by the court has swapped on the various councils across the state to take over the affairs of the councils even when the APC has chosen to participate in the local government election scheduled for February 22, 2025.

    He further alleged that PDP members and local government workers in some local government areas across the state have been shut down by political thugs aided by security agents, listing some of the affected local government to include Isokon, Boripe, Boluwaduro, Ayedaade, and Ilesa.

    He said the recent development in the state was an invitation to anarchy as it has led to a broken down of law and order in the state, thereby causing chaos and mayhem which has threatened the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.

    According to him, these desperate acts contradict common sense because there is a local government election scheduled for Saturday, 22d February 2025 to which the APC has purchased forms, conducted primaries, and actively engaged in campaigns in the last couple of months.

    Salam said the elected local government officials were removed from office by the state government after the court ruled that the law under which the election was conducted violates the 2022 electoral act.

    Members of the Osun caucus include Sen. Akogun Olalere Oyewumi (Deputy Senate Minority Leader), Sen. Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, Sen. Olubiyi Fadeyi Ajagunnla, Bamidele Salam (Osun House of Reps Caucus Leader), Busayo Oluwole Oke, Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro, Clement Akanni Olohunwa, Soji Adetunji,  Adebayo Morufu Adewale, Mudashiru Lukman, Lanre Oladebo and Sanya Omirin.