- Many killed, injured
- Governor shuts secretariats
Violence erupted yesterday in Osun State as the battle for the control of the local government secretariats between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) turned bloody.
The mayhem was recorded in 15 out of the 30 council secretariats.
A Court of Appeal judgment was interpreted differently by the APC and the PDP.
According to the APC, all its reliefs were granted by the justices – meaning that the council chairmen sacked by the PDP government headed by Governor Ademola Adeleke are reinstated.
The sacked chairmen picked yesterday to return to office.
However, the government said the judgment was not declarative and did not reinstate the sacked chairmen.
The clashes were intense in Boripe, Atakunmosa West, Ede South, Isokan, Irewole, Ola-Oluwa, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ede North local governments
In Irewole, the reinstated chairman Remi Abass was seized in front of the secretariat and taken away. His body was brought back to the secretariat hours later, according to eyewitnesses.
In Ilesa, Executive Director of Project Implementation at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Remi Omowaiye came under ambush with his car riddled with bullets. He was lucky to escape unhurt. His driver and police orderly were injured.
In Osogbo, a top state government official was seen battling with some APC supporters for control of the local government secretariat.
Trouble started in many of the councils as APC members, led by their local leaders, attempted to take over the secretariats to enforce the Court of Appeal judgment.
They were elected, shortly before the tenure of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola expired in 2022.
The leadership of Osun APC claimed that the party had taken over 15 of the 30 councils.
To curtail the mayhem, Governor Adeleke ordered residents to keep away from the councils.
Prominent monarchs appealed for calm, urging the two sides in the dispute to accord priority to peace.
The police said the circumstances surrounding the mayhem were being investigated.
The State caucus in the National Assembly led by Bamidele Salam urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene.
Adeleke and Oyetola, who is the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy have been at loggerheads over the reinstatement verdict of the Court of Appeal.
The governor had insisted that the sacked council chairmen cannot return to office, citing security reasons.
However, Oyetola said the Appeal Court judgment would be implemented through the instruments of law. He added that the council executives should resume yesterday.
Two persons were shot in Boripe local government after the reinstated council executives resumed office.
There was jubilation, following the take-over of the secretariat. But on their way home, they clashed with PDP members who laid ambush for them.
In Ife Central Council, PDP members protested the take-over of the secretariat. There was a commotion, leading to a gridlock along the Ibadan/Ikire Expressway.
A 15-second video which went viral showed the slain reinstated Irelowole local government chairman’s blood-stained body.
Commissioner for Government Affairs and Protocol, Soji Ajeigbe, who was at Boripe, alleged that two PDP members were killed by thugs. But he did not substantiate it.
An APC chieftain, Jamiu Olawumi, told reporters at Ilerioluwa Campaign Office in Osogbo, that APC had taken over 15 secretariats.
He said: “We have taken 15 LGAs, including Ede South, the council of Adeleke. We are continuing the struggle tomorrow(today).
“It is unfortunate that Adeleke and PDP in the state employ non-state actors to frustrate the enforcement of the Appeal Court verdict, which reinstated our members to the council as executives.”
Also, former Commissioner for Local Government, Adebayo Adeleke, alleged that members of APC have been marked for assassination.
Omowaiye escaped assassination by the whisker around 2:05 pm at the front of Ilesa West local government secretariat.
The former commissioner had mobilised APC members in Ilesa to the Police Command to seek protection for the reinstated chairmen and councillors.
But as he was returning to Osogbo, he ran into an ambush in front of the Ilesa West secretariat. His car was riddled with bullets.
Recounting his ordeal, Omowaiye said: “I was returning to Osogbo from Ilesa when we ran into an ambush in front of Ilesa West local government. They shot at where I was sitting on the bus. Bullets shattered the side windscreen.
“My driver and police orderly sustained serious gunshot wounds. They have been taken to hospital for treatment.”
Omowaiye added that the car of the reinstated chairman of Ilesa East was attacked on the spot where he was ambushed.
He said the perpetrators should be brought to book.
Adeleke to residents: stay away from secretariats
Adeleke directed residents to stay away from the local government secretariats and avoid further bloodshed, according to a statement by his media aide, Olawale Rasheed.
He said: “I therefore direct all law-abiding Osun residents to stay away from the council secretariats especially as they are expected to be under lock and key.
“I equally condole families of victims of the APC illegal takeover bid and the chaos unleashed across the state by the APC and their hired thugs. PDP lost five members with several others wounded.”
Monarch sues for peace
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, in a statement, said: “I offer my royal appeal to the good people of Osun State, most especially the politicians, to desist from acts capable of destroying the existing peaceful co-existence in the state.
“The violent attacks reported by the media in some local governments are worrisome. It doesn’t depict the true image of the state as the land of virtues.
‘’Let’s prioritise our lives and protect the infrastructures built with our collective resources.”
The monarch expressed worry over likely violence in Iwo community, warning politicians against mayhem in his domain.
IG orders end to violence
IGP Kayode Egbetokun ordered policemen to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, quoted Egbetokun as saying that the perpetrators of the criminal acts would be fished out and brought to book.
The statement reads: “Osun indigenes, leaders, and stakeholders are hereby urged to shun violence and go about their legitimate businesses.
“The judiciary remains the ultimate arbiter of all electoral disputes and political actors must respect and abide by its rulings, upholding the rule of law and democratic principles. Citizens are advised to go about their lawful businesses.
“The Force reiterates its commitment to clamping down on any violent actors bent on creating brouhaha and breakdown of law and order in any part of the country.
“The situation in Osun will be closely monitored, and measures will be enforced to ensure a safe environment for all residents.”
Bashiru seeks state of emergency
The APC National Secretary, Dr Ajibola Basiru, urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency to curtail further violence.
But the state Commissioner for Information, Kola Alimi, rejected the call, saying that it was unnecessary.
The duo spoke on the television about the clashes.
Basiru said: “I will suggest that perhaps it will be necessary for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency. It has gotten to that stage where hapless people coming from farms are attacked by uncontrollable PDP thugs.”
But Alimi rejected that, saying: “I call on our amiable President to reject the call of Honourable Bashiru and his cohorts. That is exactly what they are targeting, they deliberately caused mayhem in this state.
“We are going to publish the names of our members that have been killed. There is no court of appeal that restored them. We urge them to toe the line of peace.”
Why chairmen can’t return, by PDP
The PDP said the chairmen cannot be reinstated through public incitement.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said in a statement, that the chairmen’s fate had been sealed.
He said: “The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautions the sacked Osun State local government chairmen and councillors to perish the thought of forcing themselves back into office as such will amount to a futile venture with dire consequences.”
Ologunagba said a judgment of the Court to Appeal had nullified the attempt by Oyetola to install them as chairmen.
He accused the APC of attempting to incite unrest by disputing the ruling.
Ologunagba said the APC should respect the court’s decision and prepare for a fresh local government election as scheduled by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).
He urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the violence, alleging that APC supporters were involved in the clashes that led to the casualties.
Ologunagba also urged the Inspector General of Police to ensure that those responsible for the disturbances were held accountable.
