- Safiu Kehinde
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Osun State Chapter, has slammed the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged endorsement of the ongoing workers stay-at-home by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
ALGON, in a statement issued on Saturday by its State Chairman, Sarafadeen Awotunde, faulted the press release issued by the Osun APC spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, who condemned the visit of the NULGE’s National President, Aliyu Kankara, alleging that NULGE boss was bribed.
Labelling the APC’s statement as baseless, Awotunde held that the NUGLE National President’s endorsement of the stay-at-home order was due to the current administrative logjam in the state.
The ALGON Chairman described NULGE’s endorsement as reinforcement of state governor, Ademola Adeleke’s commitment to due process, transparency, and respect for constitutional order in the governance of the local government system.
He labelled APC’s allegation as a display of irrational political desperation, accusing the opposition party of resorting to its tactics of misinformation, blackmail, and character assassination.
While reaffirming ALGON’s support for Adeleke, Awotunde urged Osun residents not to be swayed by the APC’s alleged propaganda.
The statement read in part; “The attention of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State Chapter, has been drawn to a baseless and laughable press release issued by Mr. Kola Olabisi – the unconstitutional Director of Media and Information of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State concerning the recent visit of the National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Aliyu Haruna Kankara and his endorsement of the ongoing stay-at-home action by local government workers across the state.
“We wish to categorically state that the position of the NULGE National President, validating the continued stay-at-home by local government workers due to the current administrative logjam, is a clear vindication of the responsible and lawful approach adopted by His Excellency, Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke six weeks ago.
“It is a reinforcement of the commitment of this administration to due process, transparency, and respect for constitutional order in the governance of our local government system.
“The attempt by Osun APC to cast aspersions on the integrity of the NULGE National President, through baseless allegations of bribery and patronage, is nothing short of a display of irrational political desperation – a gratuitous act of public embarrassment akin to nakedness in the marketplace.
“Rather than address the core issues affecting the smooth running of local governments in Osun State – issues which are rooted in the illegality of the past administration’s actions – the APC has resorted to its usual tactics of misinformation, blackmail, and character assassination. This is not only unfortunate but also a disservice to the people of Osun State.
“We reaffirm our unflinching support for Governor Adeleke’s efforts to restore sanity and legality to the grassroots level and commend the NULGE National President for standing with the truth and for the welfare of his members.
“The people of Osun are wiser now and will not be swayed by empty noise and propaganda. ALGON in Osun remains committed to ensuring a peaceful, lawful, and people-oriented administration at all tiers of government.”