By John Dike, Osogbo
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State are bickering over the personal dispute between the state’s assembly speaker, Rt Hon Adewale Egbedun, and his home royal father, the Alasi of Asi, Oba Olasunkanmi Oyewale Isaac, in the Odo-Otin Local Government Council Area of the state.
Condemning what it described as a “reckless and hypocritical” interference im the private matter, the PDP accused the APC of attempting to exploit a personal matter for political gain, warning that such actions could further heighten tensions in the state.
In a statement on Wednesday by its Director of Media, Hezekiah Oladele Bamiji, athe PDP said it was appalled by the APC’s alleged ttempt to politicize what it called a sensitive and personal disagreement, which it noted is already receiving the attention of relevant authorities.
It said, “It is not only hypocritical but a calculated attempt to weaponize a personal matter for cheap political capita.,”
“The APC has no business inserting itself into a private affair involving the Speaker and his traditional ruler, except for the party’s desperation to stay politically relevant.”
The PDP further explained that the ongoing issue stemmed from alleged threats to the life of Speaker Egbedun, which it said had been formally reported to the police prior to the recent viral video of the Speaker’s outburst.
According to the party, the matter is currently under active investigation by the Nigeria Police, and it urged the public to allow the authorities to do their job without interference or politicization.
“It is reckless and dangerous for the APC to jump to conclusions and incite the public against the Speaker,” the party warned, adding that such conduct amounts to incitement and must not be taken lightly.
The PDP also called on the police to broaden the scope of their investigation to examine potential involvement by members of the opposition party, citing what it described as the APC’s desperation to destabilize Osun State after suffering electoral defeats.
Addressing the traditional ruler directly, the party appealed to Oba Olasunkanmi to exercise restraint and not allow external forces to worsen the situation.
The party said, “We acknowledge the cordial relationship that has long existed between Kabiyesi and his son, the Speaker,.
“We trust in His Royal Majesty’s wisdom to rise above provocations and support a thorough investigation that will expose those behind the threats.”
The party reaffirmed its confidence in Speaker Egbedun’s ability to reconcile with the monarch and continue serving the state with integrity and focus.
“We urge all stakeholders to remain calm and avoid falling into the APC’s trap of manufactured outrage aimed at discouraging young, vibrant leaders from political participation,” the statement said.
The PDP emphasized that lasting resolution lies not in media drama or partisan incitement, but in maturity, investigation, and the truth.
Reacting the state’s APC spokesperson, Mr Kola Olabisi decried the exhibition of alleged uncultured attitude of the serving Speaker towards the monarch.
Forty year old Egbedun in a viral video recording had allegedly gone haywire attacking, threatening, cursing and harassing the 72-year-old monarch in a manner suggestive of political persecution and oppression.
Olabisi alleged that the Speaker had engaged in an altercation with the royal father through a phone call picked by his daughter where and when the number one lawmaker in Osun State allegedly slid into the abyss of lawbreaking by raining abuses, curses, threats and harassment on the monarch if he should venture to come to his kingdom on the day in question.
He alleged, “In the viral video recording, Speaker Egbedun not only threatened to instruct his thugs to beat up the monarch, he also threatened to depose him, arrest him and possibly kill him by metaphorically telling the traditional father that he would ensure he engaged in a blood bath.
“The uncultured Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly went further to state that he never knew that the traditional ruler who is old enough to beget him who has been destined to face persecution would have its taste from him because he was disrespectful.
“All the entreaties made by the daughter of the monarch to allow peace to reign fell in the deaf ear of the unruly Speaker who was busy with his session of threatening of the monarch with a final hint that he would teach the traditional ruler the lesson of his life.
“We, as a party, are not surprised at the exhibition of the uncultured and ill-manner of Speaker Egbedun to the traditional ruler of his town as it is pretty impossible for someone to give what he does not possess.
According to Olabisi, “the type of Egbedun has been the one calling the shot in the Osun State House of Assembly, do we need to wonder the type of services that the supposed hallowed chambers would be rendering to the unsuspecting people of the state?
“With the verifiable uncultured attitude of the Speaker to the Alasi, the pungent reason for the ceaseless acts of misgovernance bedevilling the Governor Ademola Adeleke-led government can be partly traced to the state house of assembly under the watch of Egbedun.
“If the Speaker could treat his traditional ruler in such an obnoxious manner, one could imagine what the members of the Assembly where he has the constitutional power to do and undo are passing through which could not be divulged to the public.
” With this show of shame of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, he has shown that he is a monumental minus to the administration of the visibly wobbling administration of Governor Adeleke and an unworthy ambassador of the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria.
