APC kicks as Adeleke meets monarchs over Osun LG crisis
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called on traditional rulers in the state to educate their subjects on the crises rocking the state over the control of local government areas that have pitched the government against the All Progressives Congress in the state.
But the opposition All Progressives Congress, in reaction to the governor’s plea, told him to approach the Supreme Court rather than dragging royal fathers to the issues relating to law and governance.
Adeleke, who appeared at the monthly meeting of the royal fathers held at the Abere Government Secretariat on Thursday, used the opportunity to brief the monarchs on the crises, insisting that there was no specific order reinstating the chairmen elected in the October 15, 2022 local government elections.
The governor, who was accompanied by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Oluwole Jimi-Bada, and the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, presented the four judgments on the cases relating to the October 2022 local government elections obtained at the Federal High Court, Osogbo and Akure Division of Court Appeal to the monarchs.
“So there were two separate suits. The PDP case was filed before the promulgation of the Local Government Election Law of 2022. In both of these cases, the Federal High Court decided that the process and procedure leading to the election was flawed.
“The court in both cases declared the election null and void and of no consequences and removed the persons who were purported to have been elected through that flawed election. The Court nullified and ordered those who were purportedly elected to vacate the office.
“In the first appeal against the APP judgement which sacked the Yes/No Council chairmen, the APC and the APM filed an appeal but did not pursue the case. They went to sleep as lawyers would say.
“The respondent in the case which included the PDP, sought to dismount the appeal. So the Court of Appeal dismissed the APC appeal. Our fathers, since the appeal was dismissed, the judgment sacking the Yes/No chairmen remains valid. As of today, the sack order has never been vacated by any court of law.
“Now in the second case involving APC V PDP, the Court of Appeal noted that there were four issues for determination and resolved issues 1 and 2 and said; (1) the amendment granted by the Federal High Court when the case was pending was wrong; (2) the second order made by the Court of Appeal in that process was that the case itself was premature and that there was no cause of action. The court consequently resolved that issues 3 and 4 became academic exercises, that were of no value, effect or importance.
“So the Court of Appeal in Akure came to the conclusion that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to have entertained the matter in the first place and then struck out that case that was filed by PDP and made No order.
“In the 53-page judgment that is in the public domain, there is nowhere an order was made by the Court of Appeal for reinstatement of the sacked chairmen. Even if there was any request for reinstatement, prayers 3 and 4 were described by the Court of Appeal as academic and the court declined to consider them,” Adeleke said.
He noted that despite opposition, the local government election was conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, adding that he has since directed the elected officials to stay away from the councils to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
Tasking the monarchs to intervene and educate their subjects about the crisis, the governor further said, “Our royal fathers, you have all the facts before you. There is no reinstatement order as you can see. I appeal to our royal fathers to further educate their subjects on the facts of the controversies. We are a community of enlightened citizens. We should not allow fake news to be weaponised to destroy our dear state.”
When contacted, Osun APC spokesperson, Mr Kola Olabisi, advised Adeleke to approach the Supreme Court and stop seeking assistance from the royal fathers, “having treated many of them poorly in the past through unfavourable policies.”
Olabisi claimed that Adeleke utilised white paper to remove some monarchs by Adeleke shortly after assuming office.
“He went to the royal fathers to report to the Court of Appeal Justices who did their job diligently and dispensed justice. Is that not laughable?” Olabisi queried.
He continued, “This same Adeleke seeking Osun monarchs’ intervention, has in the past denigrated royal stool by removing royal fathers in disregard for the rule of law and the Yoruba culture and traditions.
“He has embarrassed these royal fathers through his actions. People are watching him and our monarchs know he has at several times in the past been mistreating them. We urge Adeleke to leave our royal fathers alone and seek help somewhere else.
“Owing to our beliefs in the rule of law, we advise him to seek help from the court and not from any other place. We believe in the Judiciary and the governor should also live up to the oath he took and respect court orders rather than seek help from those he has never shown respect,” Olabisi said.
