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The Osun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of employing brazen falsehood as cover to justify its illegal occupation of local councils in the state, dismissing its criticism of the visit of the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government (NULGE) as irresponsible and a desperate attempt to force its lawlessness on a reputable body.
The Osun PDP in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, lambasted the APC for taking its impunity overboard with the reckless approach of censoring the NULGE leadership in its statutory rights of keeping members safe, noting that the Osun APC desperation for power has exposed its evil antics, including its open confession on involvement in the failed attempt to factionalize the state’s chapter of NULGE.
Hon. Bisi described the claim of reinstatement of sacked YES or NO by the Court of Appeal as nothing but a fallacy, wondering why the APC has returned to the same appellate court to relist a dismissed appeal that affirmed the sack of the APC members if they had indeed been reinstated.
“It is no longer in doubt that Osun APC has no regard whatsoever for rule of law, but we find it disturbing that it is trying to do everything to force its lawlessness on everyone. It is a public knowledge that the APC YES or NO officials are remained sacked by the virtue of a court judgement, and this fact was further highlighted some days ago when the APC returned back to the Court of Appeal to relist a dismissed appeal and see if it can vacate a judgement sacking its members,” Hon. Bisi noted in a statement.
“The reason why the Osun APC is occupying secretariats illegally is basically because of the arrogance of federal might. The claim of a Court of Appeal is just a ruse because there was no such judgement that ordered the reinstatement of the sacked officials.
“This is why the Osun APC could not approach the Court of Appeal to initiate a contempt of court action as the newly elected LG officials have done by filing action in court over the flagrant disobedience to court judgement and orders by the sacked officials by illegally occupying the councils.”
Hon. Bisi rejected the insinuation by the APC that the state’s chapter of the NULGE is an arm of the party, saying the incessant attacks and character assassination hurled on the person of Dr. Nathaniel Ogungbange by the Osun APC stem from its frustration that the NULGE chief refused to be a part of its lawless mission and put the lives of members at risk in the mindless hijack of power through the back door.
“Dr. Nathaniel Ogungbange only crime to Osun APC is choosing to be law abiding by not getting involved in the lawlessness campaign of the opposition party and ensure that NULGE members do not fall victims of the power mongers violent attempt to seize power through the backdoor. During its previous forceful takeover of councils, Osun APC hired thugs short dead more than seven PDP members, some of whom are Damilare Olumide (aka Ege) and Oyebamiji Taiwo (aka Igara) both in Boripe LG, and Abdullahi Olawale Ayanfe and Bakare Toheed (aka Yaba) in Ola-Oluwa LG and Irewole LG respectively.
“More than 41 PDP members suffered various injuries as a result of Osun APC thugs relentless show of violence, including Hon. Ayo Awodirepo from Ife East, who is the Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) to Senator Adenigba Fadahunsi, who still nurses bullet wound from APC act of terror. It is therefore understandable why the Osun NULGE President is hesitant in returning members to work because any responsible leader should have the well-being of his people at heart.”
The Osun PDP condemned the attempt by the APC to elevate the advisory note of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police over a Court judgement, saying the position smack of a big affront on rule of law and democracy tenet.
“Nowhere in Section 150 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that created the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation which indicated that the opinion of the occupier superintend a judgement delivered by a court of competent jurisdiction, especially when such opinion comes from incomplete assessment of all legal facts. It is therefore worrisome that the Osun APC continues to project the erroneous impression that the opinion of the AGF on the February 22, 2025 local governments election should be placed above the judgement of the Osun State High Court, sitting in Ilesa, which found that there were vacancies in the LGs and ordered the OSSIEC to go ahead with the election.
“We’re even more concerned that the AGF and indeed the IGP of Police have failed to correct the Osun APC from promoting the erroneous notion, which clearly undermines the power vested on Courts by Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). We must restate our reservation at the manner with which the Osun APC drop the names of the IGP of the Police and the AGF to justify their indifference to valid judgement of the Courts, which is fueling concerns on the source of their impunity.”
The National Executive Council of the National Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) led by its President Aliyu Haruna Kankara had on Friday declared its full support to the leadership of the union in Osun on their decision to down tool over the local government crisis in the state
Aliyu Kankara, the National President of the body while leading other National Executive members and all the NULGE Presidents in the southwest on a solidarity visit to Osun, noted that the decision by its state chapter indicates that the union leadership cares about its members.
Kankara also praised the state government for prioritizing welfare of workers in the state, adding that the minimum wage table implemented in Osun is one of the best in the country.
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