Osun APC Urges President Tinubu, IGP Egbetokun To Stop Gov Adeleke, PDP From ‘Stifling’ Opposition
Osun state APC on Monday accused the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration of taking steps to launch a wide-ranging crackdown on opposition and the party has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to save the people of the state from those it referred to as ‘political tyrants’ who have allegedly been threatening law-abiding citizens .
The APC also called on heads of security agencies in the country, especially the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to come to the aid of its members who have allegedly been arbitrarily blacklisted for a series of violent attacks by the state government.
The party also condemned the continued closure of courts in the state describing such an action as ‘inhuman’ and a security threat given high number of lawsuits that would have been adjudicated and disposed of for justice.
Speaking during the press conference he presided over at the Tinubu/Shettima campaign office, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, which was attended by journalists including Team@orientactualmags.com, the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lawal said this was necessary in order to nip in the bud the plot to allegedly harass, kidnap and kill leaders and members of the party in the state with the aim of silencing the opposition.
Lawal also described the ‘White Paper’ issued by Governor Adeleke as a ‘mere smokescreen,’ saying the motive for doing this is to ‘divert the attention of the public from asking pertinent and important questions.
He also alleged that the setting up of a Task Force by Governor Adeleke was done secretly alleging that it is peopled with PDP thugs and notorious criminals on the wanted list of the police who have been allegedly told to forcefully retrieve some vehicles duly released to past government functionaries.
He said this was done to further provoke the law-abiding citizens, injure them and precipitate violence in the state.
‘On the threat to lives and property of the leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress, Security reports available to us revealed that the handlers of the state government will anytime from now carry out the evil plan by hiding under the excuse of implementing the White Paper recently issued by the Osun state Government.
Recall that in March 2023 during a similar Press Briefing to mark the 100 days in office of Governor Adeleke, we informed the esteemed members of the public that the current Government in the state squandered the N90 billion revenue accrued to it, since that time, the state government has made more money, running into N200billion (including local government funds), and our party has not backed down from its noble role of exposing the rot in the Adeleke administration.
Our profound insistence that Governor Adeleke should disclose the identities of the Contractors handling major projects in the state has continued to enrage the government and necessitated the plot to clamp down on our members, especially those who served under Ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and members of our media team.
We have, on many occasions, challenged the state governor to prove to the public that the government contracts are not being executed by cronies and proxies of his elder brother, Dr Deji Adeleke and sister, Mrs Dupe Adeleke-Sanni. The handlers of the state government are not happy about the fact that our party has successfully raised the consciousness of the Nigerian public, particularly the citizens of Osun, as to how the N9billion Federal Government Palliative Fund and additional N4.5billion NG-Cares grant recently received by the current regime were diverted and looted’ he added.
On the recent White Paper issued by the government nullifying the selection processes that produced the Aree of Iree, the Owa of Igbajo and the Akinrun of Ikirun, Lawal described the decision taken by the government as an undignified double standard.
‘On assumption of office in November 2022, Governor Adeleke had ordered the suspension of some traditional rulers installed during the immediate past administration and the above- mentioned thrones have since become subjects of court litigations in which the governor and the government of Osun state are defendants.
However, while the governor cleared the Alawo of Awo to function as Oba pending the determination of the law suit in respect of the Awo throne, he maliciously nullified the processes that produced the Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo and ordered for fresh processes; he declared the Akinrun of Ikirun throne vacant pending the outcome of the court case.
It’s a mockery of the judiciary that the head of the executive arm of government would make a pronouncement on a case before a court particularly in a case he is also a defendant! That is sub judice.That makes the governor a judge in his own case’ he said.
The APC Chairman also noted that whilst four traditional rulers were declared to be on suspension, Governor Adeleke gave recognition to Alawo of Awo, and encouraged him to honour his sister, Mrs. Dupe Adeleke-Sanni and her husband with chieftaincy titles.
Lawal cautioned that the reactions of the indigenes of the affected towns leave much to be desired and if not well managed could cause a breakdown of law and order.
‘Governor Ademola Adeleke should save the state from impending mayhem by reverting to status quo ante pending the outcome of the law suits instituted by the affected parties.
We use this medium to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police to intervene in the brewing situation in the state’ Lawal added-Team@orientactualmags.com
Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
