LG Crisis: Go Back To Court – TOM Tells Osun PDP, APC

A civil society group, The Osun Masterminds (TOM), has suggested that the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) return to the courts to clarify the subsisting judgment over the Local Government crisis....Read Full Article >>➤

The group’s Executive Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, said this during the February State-of-the-State address held on Thursday in Osogbo, the capital of Osun.

Prof. Oyedokun-Alli stated that all political gladiators in Osun have not acted in the best interest of peace due to the crisis that erupted following the Court of Appeal judgment on February 10.

He accused the PDP and APC of refusing to respect the provisions of the rule of law and clear judicial processes, instead resorting to self-help that has led to chaos in the state.

While condemning the killings of several Osun indigenes, including Hon. Remi Abbass and others, the group demanded that all parties resolve the issues through clear legal processes immediately and allow the Local Governments to resume work without threats to life.

The group slammed the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) for conducting the Local Government elections after the controversial appeal judgment, asking: if the court indeed reinstated the sacked chairmen, where will OSSIEC place officials elected in the 2025 LG elections?

Prof. Oyedokun-Alli described the LG elections conducted on February 22 as an aberration and a desecration of democracy, noting that thousands of polling units did not receive election materials or officials, while the few that did had concluded voting before 10:00 a.m.

The TOM boss urged the staff of the Local Governments to remain non-partisan and align themselves with the rule of law to ensure they do not become willing tools in the hands of any politician.

Speaking on the current state of Nigeria, Prof. Oyedokun-Alli said that although President Tinubu is making several efforts to revive and rejuvenate the nation’s economy, the results are negative, plunging Nigerians into poverty.

While condemning the recent acquiescence of the Ministry of ICT to the increase in data and call service rates by telecom companies in the country, Prof. Oyedokun-Alli called on the president to, as a matter of urgency, rethink strategies that will alleviate the ravaging poverty in the land.

He commended the FG for establishing the Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies in Osun, affirming that it will further help the nation through qualitative research, thereby contributing to national development.