Politics
Group Slams APC, PDP Over Osun LG Shutdown, Calls For Fresh Polls
The group, in a statement by its state coordinator and secretary, Alfred Adegoke and Kola Ibrahim, made available to journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday, said the continued shutdown of local government activities shows the anti-people character of the APC led Federal government and the PDP led state government.
It, therefore, called for the immediate resumption of local government activities, the release of withheld local government allocations, and a new, properly conducted election.
Noting that the shutdown of the local government administration has affected governance at the local level, DSM stated that people can no longer access essential services rendered by the local government.
“The shutdown is a sequel to the attempt by the former local government executives under the administration of former governor, Gboyega Oyetola, to return to office.
“The Ademola Adeleke/PDP government in Osun State, rather than take bold steps to defend the Osun State people and its local governments by calling out the illegality being sponsored and supported by the federal government through the federal attorney general, is preoccupied with declaring support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, all in a bid not to rock the boat.
“We totally condemn the prostration of the Osun State government to the illegal action of the federal government, and we demand that the state government take proactive measures to defend and protect the interest of the people and the local government administration.
“The continued paralysis of the local government administration in Osun State has further shown that the two main ruling parties, the APC and the PDP, are not interested in any democracy or even a pretence to it. They are ready to castrate the local government just to satisfy their pecuniary political interests.
“The APC is holding the local government system to ransom in order to undermine the Adeleke government in preparation for the 2026 elections. On the other hand, the Adeleke government is trying to court President Tinubu and seek his favour towards the 2026 gubernatorial election, even if this means sacrificing the local government system.
“The recent rumour of Governor Adeleke’s joining the APC, and the subsequent official statement of the PDP in Osun State declaring support for Tinubu’s second term, are indicative of a resolve not to rock the boat, even when the Adeleke government has a judicial edge over the APC on the local government matter.
“Rather than take the federal government up legally, the Adeleke government actually withdrew a matter earlier filed at the Supreme Court challenging the continued withholding of local government funds.
“It is obvious that the Adeleke government is not prepared to take any serious action to restore the local government administration, while the APC is prepared to wreck the state, as long as it would guarantee them power come 2026,” the group said.
We totally condemn the prostration of the Osun State government to the illegal action of the federal government, and we demand that the state government take proactive measures to defend and protect the interest of the people and the local government administration.
“The continued paralysis of the local government administration in Osun State has further shown that the two main ruling parties, the APC and the PDP, are not interested in any democracy or even a pretence to it. They are ready to castrate the local government just to satisfy their pecuniary political interests.
“The APC is holding the local government system to ransom in order to undermine the Adeleke government in preparation for the 2026 elections. On the other hand, the Adeleke government is trying to court President Tinubu and seek his favour towards the 2026 gubernatorial election, even if this means sacrificing the local government system.
“The recent rumour of Governor Adeleke’s joining the APC, and the subsequent official statement of the PDP in Osun State declaring support for Tinubu’s second term, are indicative of a resolve not to rock the boat, even when the Adeleke government has a judicial edge over the APC on the local government matter.
“Rather than take the federal government up legally, the Adeleke government actually withdrew a matter earlier filed at the Supreme Court challenging the continued withholding of local government funds.