Indications of possible mayhem in Osun emerged at the weekend as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, assured chairmen of local governments in the state who were sacked by the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke to go and resume in their respective offices.
Oyetola, a former Governor of the state, while addressing the chairmen in Osogbo said policemen would accompany the chairmen as they resume in their local government offices asking them not to be afraid of any intimidation.
This is sequel to the outcome of the Appeal Court ruling last week which said the sacking of the chairmen who were elected two during the tenure of Oyetola under the “yes/No” system were validly elected.
But the Peoples Democratic Party and the government of Adeleke have said that the Appeal court judgment is being wrongly interpreted.
“You have nothing to fear. There will be security men to provide covers as you resume in your offices,” Oyetola told the chairmen and his supporters. A video of the former governor making the statement was shared by an X user,
Oyetola’s supporters had converged on the Ilerioluwa Campaign Office, Osogbo, Osun State, upon sighting the minister took to the street with different solidarity songs and dances to welcome the former governor into the state capital.
The minister said he was delighted with the Court of Appeal judgment just as he reminded the supporters that the next gubernatorial election is around the corner.
On the Appeal Court ruling, Oyetola said the judiciary for being the last hope of a common man. The minister who described the judgment as a victory for democracy noted that it is a testament to the fact there is light after the tunnels.
He said, “It was a wonderful judgment coming at this time and I must commend the judiciary for being the hope of the common man. We have been on this litigation since 2022 but today we thank God that the mandate given to our chairmen and councillors had been restored. “We are happy and we are grateful to Almighty God and we thank the judiciary for a wonderful job. With that, I believe that the issue of enforcement of the judgment will be constitutionally done.
“We are law-abiding citizens and as you all know, our party, the APC, believes in the rule of law. We are appealing to the security agencies to do the needful by ensuring that the chairmen and councillors are given the opportunity to resume to their offices. “I want to assure everyone particularly members of our party that by God’s grace, there will be a free and fair governorship election and we are confident to win the election.”
Barrister Muideen Adeoye, lawyer to the APC, added that there was no going back in enforcing the Appeal Court’s judgment. Adeoye warned the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to respect the Appeal Court’s judgment that reinstated the unjustifiably sacked council officials by abandoning the proposed illegal council election.
NPO Reports that the imminent scenario is similar to what happened in Rivers state last year after the sack of chairmen of councils who were loyal to former Governor and current Minister, Nyesome Wike.
The chairmen loyal to Wike had made attempts to resume in their various offices, a move that was violently resisted by supporters of Governor Sim Fubara.
The incident had led to burning of government properties and killing of some party members at the time.