The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to cease labeling the party as the aggressor in the ongoing political standoff in Osun.
The APC emphasized that the recent unrest surrounding the control of local government areas in Osun has tragically claimed the lives of at least ten individuals, who fell victim to attacks by PDP militants throughout the state.
Governor Makinde, who was in Osogbo, Osun on Sunday for the swearing-in of new council chairmen by his counterpart, Governor Ademola Adeleke, advised the Osun APC to refrain from self-help and instead seek legal resolution through the courts.
However, the Osun APC swiftly dismissed Makinde’s advice as unnecessary. They argued that his comments were politically motivated, aiming to appease his fellow governor of the same party, rather than addressing the gravity of the situation.
In a related development, Governor Seyi Makinde had earlier cautioned the APC against undermining democracy by resorting to self-help in the local government administration crisis in Osun.
Speaking at the swearing-in of Osun’s 30 newly elected local government chairmen, he emphasized the importance of respecting due process, even when a court judgment is involved.
Makinde warned against exploiting federal power to disrupt democratic processes, stating, “Even if you have a court judgment, there is a process; let that process play out.” He reminded the gathering of the region’s tumultuous past, saying, “We do not want a return to the ‘Wild Wild West’ days.”
At the ceremony, Makinde expressed his support for the new local government chairmen, urging them to fulfill their campaign promises and deliver tangible benefits to the people at the grassroots level.
He also expressed solidarity with Governor Ademola Adeleke and the people of Osun, attending the event alongside PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, to demonstrate their backing.
The lead-up to the Osun local government elections was marked by controversy, with the PDP emerging victorious in all chairmanship positions.
The APC, however, has rejected the election, citing concerns raised by police authorities and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, who had urged the Osun government to suspend the exercise due to security and legal issues.
Despite this, Governor Adeleke remained resolute, insisting on the election’s legitimacy and moving forward with the process.
