– PDP fires back
– Workers stay at home from Monday
The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has faulted the alleged refusal of Governor Ademola Adeleke to obey an Appeal court judgement reinstating sacked local government chairman and councillors in the state.
It asked him as a beneficiary of various court judgements to stop playing politics with people’s lives which he pledged to protect on his assumption of office .
The party admonished Adeleke to obey the court order instead of playing politics capable of undermining the integrity and sanctity of the judiciary to whom he was a beneficiary.
Addressing a Press Conference at the Ilerioluwa Campaign Office, Osogbo, the APC State Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lawal expressed displeasure over the alleged unruly conduct of the government officials since the Court’s pronouncement.
Lawal warned the Governor and his appointees to refrain from any act capable of causing sociopolitical unrest and setting the state on fire as the Appeal Court’s judgment was clear, direct and straightforward.
“We have invited you today to intimate you of the recent judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in respect of the sacked elected council officials of our party whose mandate was restored by the Appellate Court.
“Rather than stoking crisis in the state, the most honourable thing for Governor Ademola Adeleke to do is to comply with the court order and give protection to the reinstated council Chairmen and Councillors.
“This is not the time to whip up sentiments and seek undue public sympathy as the matter is constitutional and unassailable. Laws are not built on sentiment but rather fact.
“As a responsible party, we have been civil and law abiding that is why we have been seeking every legal means to ensure that the law takes its due course”, Lawal said.
On the legal implications of the verdict, the State Legal Adviser of the APC, Barrister Adegoke Ogunsola berated the government for allegedly twisting and misinterpreting the verdict to suit perceived unlawfulness.
Ogunsola who described the Press Conference held by the state government as ‘child of self-inflicted frustration’ saying it is unfortunate that the Governor stooped so low below the status of a ward councillor not to talk of the status of a Governor.
“The most disturbing aspect of it occurred when the whole Governor of a state descended so low and falsely levelled unfounded allegations against the persons of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The Governor unsuccessfully attempted to twist express language of the judgment when he erroneously assumed the duty of the judiciary of interpretation of law. It is very much unfortunate when the Governor further in a figment of imagination asserted that the Minister was leveraging on a contrived relationship with the President to direct the law enforcement agents to act.
“The members of the public are hereby advised to ignore the misrepresentation of facts as sought to be created by the Governor in his sad pettiness. The good people of Osun State are further admonished to find a way to rely on solidly available facts which by no any manipulation cannot be erased or twisted.
“Finally, the Inspector General of Police and all other security apparatus are called to ensure that the misleading information as released by the government is not allowed to degenerate into crisis as same are capable of inciting crises”, Ogunsola averred.
On the matter, the former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Benedict Alabi, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo Adeleke Banik and former Special Adviser to ex-Governor Oyetola, Hon. Jamiu Olawumi, counselled Adeleke to toe a path of honour by obeying the rule of law.
The APC chieftains speaking separately said Adeleke should be held responsible should the development snowball to civil and political crises in the state.
Reacting,t he PDP state chairman Hon Sunday Bisi described the propaganda of APC misinterpretation of Appeal court judgement as unfortunate
He said no portion of the judgement ordered the reinstatement of YES Or NO local government sacked officials adding that any body with elementary knowledge of Law can easily understand and interprete the Appeal court judgement.
The PDP chairman warned that any forceful attempt to take office Local government secretariats may result to dire consequence urging security agencies to be alert with it’s responsibilities in protecting lives and properties .
However,the Nigerian Labour Congress NLC have directed it’s workers to stay off from work on Monday over possible fear of attack
The NLC chairman Comrade Dr Christopher Arapasopo said NLC remains apolitical warning against any harassment of its members employed in local government areas.
He expressed concern over the current political unrest, which has instilled fear among local government workers.
“The NLC is apolitical, but we won’t allow our members to work in an atmosphere of insecurity,” Arapasopo stated.
He urged all political parties and their supporters to adhere strictly to the rule of law to prevent a descent into anarchy.
To safeguard its members, the NLC has directed all local government employees in Osun State to withdraw their services effective Monday, February 17, 2025, starting at 12:00 AM. “We won’t allow our members to return until their safety at work can be assured and guaranteed, which is their constitutional right,” Arapasopo emphasized.
The NLC also called upon security agencies to ensure the protection of lives and property within Osun State’s local governments and the general public.
“The NLC Osun State remains committed to defending the rights, welfare, and safety of all its members,” the statement concluded.
Arapasopo reassured local government workers that their interests are being protected and that their safety is a priority.
