Members of the Osun State Caucus in the National Assembly on Monday called for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention to halt the illegal plot by the Minister of Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, to take over Local Government Councils.
Leader of the Osun Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Salam who spoke during the press briefing themed: ‘In defence of democracy and the rule of law’, held in Abuja, frowned at the high level of impunity allegedly being perpetuated by the former Governor.
“Today, the people of Osun woke up to a criminal take-over of the Local Government Secretariats across Osun State by these sacked officials who forcefully broke into the premises of the councils, aided by thugs and hooligans who have been shooting sporadically, wreaking havoc on the people of the State, thereby breaking law and order.
Having observed the breaking of law and order in Osun State in the last few hours, this address becomes imminent and indispensable for us as representatives of the people who have sworn to uphold the rule of law and defend democratic principles at all times.
“We use this medium to condemn the brazen effrontery of the sacked Local Government Council officials to return to office notwithstanding the yet-to-be-set-aside decision of the Court of Appeal, Akure, against their return to the office.
“Today, the people of Osun woke up to a criminal take-over of the Local Government Secretariats across Osun State by these sacked officials who forcefully broke into the premises of the councils, aided by thugs and hooligans who have been shooting sporadically, wreaking havoc on the people of the State, thereby breaking law and order.
“Sadly, this is being perpetrated with the support of some security personnel, relying on a different court judgement, despite a subsisting court judgement which upheld the nullification of their purported election,” he lamented.
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While expressing the Caucus’ displeasure over the illegality being perpetuated to cause breakdown of law and order in the State, Hon. Salam said: “We are aware that these dastardly acts are being carried out under the directives of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola and some notable leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State in active collaboration with the heads of Security Agencies in the State, namely; the Commissioner of Police, the Director of State Security Service, and the State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
“This is an invitation to anarchy and it has broken law and order in the State, thereby causing chaos and mayhem which has threatened the relative peace being enjoyed by the good people of Osun State under the stewardship of the Peoples’ Governor, HE, Sen. Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke.
“These desperate acts contradict common sense in view of the fact that there is a Local Government election scheduled for Saturday 22nd of February to which the APC has purchased forms, conducted primaries and actively engaged in campaigns in the last couple of months.
“It therefore baffles any right-thinking mind on how the same party and its leaders will turn around to insist that officials who were sacked over two years ago should forcefully take over office in a manner that disrupts the peace of the state.
“Sadly, this desperate act in connivance with security agents is taking its toll as scores of PDP members, local government workers, and other innocent persons have been shot, brutalised, and harassed by APC thugs and security men in the last few hours. There are several reports of attacks in various parts of the state.
“At Isokan Local Government, it was reported that three PDP members were shot dead by APC thugs in their bid to take over the local government secretariats. At Boripe Local Government, PDP members who were holding peaceful meetings were reportedly attacked by MOPOL and thugs working with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola.
“At Boluwaduro Local Government, Mr. Asiri Eniba (a notorious APC thug) reportedly led the assaults on PDP members, shooting sporadically across major towns in the area. At Ayedaade Local Government, APC thugs shot a member of the PDP to death with several wounded. At Ilesa East, APC thugs swooped on the local government Secretariat, macheting PDP members on sight.
“We condemn these unfolding acts of state capture through violence, usurpation of constituted authority, abuse of federal power and gross rascality by the APC in Osun and especially the Minister of Marine and Blue economy, Mr Gboyega Oyetola.
“We hereby alert the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HE Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the international community of this unfortunate occurrence. Accordingly, we call on Mr. President to direct the Inspector General of Police to immediately restore law and order in the State.
“Furthermore, we call on Mr. President to instruct the National Security Adviser, and the Attorney General of the Federation, to properly advise the All Progressives Congress in Osun on the futility of their barbaric actions and guide them appropriately on the true position of the law on this matter.
“Finally, we want to state it categorically that as representatives of the people, we stand by the Osun State Government on this matter in defence of democracy and the rule of law,” Hon. Salam noted.
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