APC federal appointees planning to hijack Osun government ahead election — Adeleke
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused Federal appointees of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the state of planning to hijack his government ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
Pointedly, Adeleke said the “federal party officials boast of powers to deploy security apparatus to witch-hunt state officials. On many occasions, officials of the federal ruling party have openly declared their readiness to hijack the state whether the people voted for them or not. Worst still, they have security cover when making such provocative declarations.”
The Governor made the allegation on Thursday while speaking at the Southwest stakeholders dialogue, a regional citizen-government interactive town hall session with Ministers and Senior Federal Government officials, held in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Adeleke said, “it would interest the audience to know that in Osun state, some security agencies openly protect and defend ruling party operatives even when they act in ways and manners against the law and the constitution.”
Represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, the governor said further, “As if that is not enough, the Osun local government fund was seized without any court order from earlier this year. Duly elected local government officials were not allowed to assume office, and those sacked by a subsisting court order were forced on the local government secretariats by federal power and security apparatus. All the facts are in the public domain.
Read also: APC secures two-thirds majority at House of Reps as all Enugu Lawmakers join Party
“I cite all the above details to shed light on impunity and abuse of power as a major impediment to a virile national and subnational collaboration.
“As a government Osun state has demonstrated the willingness and readiness for productive partnership and interaction. Despite hostile posturing, Osun is always a top participant in federal peer review of the 36 states. In our engagements with the centre, several federal agencies have recognised Osun’s positive records in governance delivery.”
Adeleke also said the Southwest region must additionally leverage on federal support to develop agro-industrialisation, with each state adopting a product in which it has relative strength.
He maintained that there must be a strategic outlook having the development of the region as a priority, irrespective of governing parties at the subnational level.
The Governor, therefore, said that embarking on the development of a circular cargo railway project for the Southwest in partnership with the Federal Government will go a long way to develop the region.
According to him, “we must additionally develop a network of dry ports across the zone, all linked with the circular railway project. It is our position that the South West must elevate power applications beyond partisan considerations.
“For security, we must enhance and strengthen Amotekun instead of the current efforts to demonise the body based on partisan considerations.
“More importantly, we must never deploy federal power against ourselves, no matter the differences. We must develop an internal clearing house where disagreements can be sorted.
“I must warn that we must never compromise democracy in our quest for development. As the most literate segment of the Nigerian society, the Southwest must enhance and protect the rights of its citizens to vote and be voted for. Southwest should be the bastion of free and fair elections in Nigeria. We must avoid the temptation to rig elections as the consequences have never been palatable. The rights of the people as expressed through the ballot boxes must be respected.”
