The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has made a request to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. They urged him to stop labeling the Osun APC as the instigator. This concerns the ongoing political conflict within the state.
This statement follows claims from Osun APC. They claim that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have assaulted individuals throughout the state. These assaults have resulted in the deaths of ten people.
Governor Makinde was present in Osun on Sunday. He attended the inauguration of local government council chairpersons and their deputies. This event was led by his counterpart in Osun State.
At the ceremony, Governor Makinde advised the Osun APC to avoid repeating past mistakes. He cautioned against transforming the state into a “Wild Wild West.”
He further encouraged the Osun APC to refrain from taking matters into their own hands. He advised them to seek judicial resolution instead.
Also addressing the gathering, Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke gave instructions to the newly sworn-in council members. He advised them not to report to their council offices. This was to avert potential violent confrontations.
The Osun APC’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, made a statement. In it, the party criticized Governor Makinde’s counsel as unwarranted. They contended that recent events suggested he was merely seeking to appease his fellow party member.
The statement posed several questions. “Where was Governor Makinde? His political ally in the former State of Virtuous exploited the sanctity of the Osun State Government House. They incited party members to attack our supporters and leaders.”
“Where was Governor Makinde when the political thugs from his party shot and killed our party’s newly reinstated chairman in Ikire, Hon. Remi Abass, in Irewole Local Government, seemingly encouraged by Governor Adeleke’s earlier provocations?”
“Where was Governor Makinde when PDP loyalists killed an individual in Irojo, Ilesa, during the unlawful and chaotic local government council election allegedly conducted by his associate on Saturday?”
The party challenged Governor Makinde to clarify his silence when notorious thugs, reportedly connected to his party, nearly harmed Remi Omowaiye, an APC leader, and Tobi Famurewa in Ilesa recently.“
We must assert to Governor Makinde that he is not qualified to advise the APC leadership on managing the ongoing initiatives of our duly elected chairpersons and councilors, who are striving to benefit from the Court of Appeal’s ruling delivered on February 10, 2025.”
“Where was Governor Makinde when the beleaguered Governor Adeleke disregarded the counsel of the nation’s chief legal officer, the Attorney-General of the Federation, to annul the so-called election—an election he asserted to have reviewed in light of the Court of Appeal ruling, which did not call for any new elections in Osun State until the terms of the reinstated APC chairpersons and councilors had concluded?”
“Why did Governor Makinde choose to stay silent when his Osun counterpart insulted the state Commissioner of Police, the State Director of the DSS, and the State Comptroller of Civil Defence, despite their efforts to maintain order in the state?”
Osun APC also accused the governor of ignoring the guidance of Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who had cautioned against conducting local government elections due to adverse security assessments, considering the overall safety of the state.
