Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke has raised alarm concerning the alleged plot by the minister of marine and blue economy, Gboyega Oyetola to instigate unrest in the state. The governor made this known during a world press conference held on Sunday.
The governor accused Oyetola of allegedly issuing an illegal directive to the security operative in the state to enforce the unlawful return of sacked local government chairmen.
He added that Oyetola was collaborating with the Osun state police, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the commandant of civil defense corps and his connection as the President’s nephew to push illegal actions.
“I called this press conference to alert the national and global audience about a deliberate plot to create chaos and anarchy in Osun state. I invite you all to expose a fascist anti-democratic agenda designed to enforce a non-existing court judgment on our local governments. This evil plot is being spearheaded by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Gboyega Oyetola in active collaboration with the Osun state Commissioner of Police, the Osun state Director of DSS and the State Commandant of the Civil Defense Corps.
“Before I continue this address, let me affirm that I know Mr. President to be a true democrat, a lover of rule of law, and a believer in the sanctity of the judicial process. I know, as a matter of fact, that Mr. President will never authorise a dictatorial violation of the constitution irrespective of who is involved. It is crucial to add that Mr. President will never support any action that is capable of generating bloodbath and bloodshed.
“I, however, regret to inform Mr. President and the public that Mr Gboyega Oyetola has concluded an arrangement to cause mayhem in Osun state starting from Monday. He is issuing illegal directives to Osun security operatives to enforce illegality simply because he is the nephew of Mr. President. I chose to alert the nation before my people are killed or maimed by a minister dropping the name of Mr. President in connivance with the Osun state security operatives obeying unlawful orders,” the press release read in part.
Osun state governor gives more clarification on the Federal High Court judgment
The governor also gave clarification regarding the two local government chairmen sacked by the Federal High Court in Osun. He said “Let me make it clear that the said Council Chairmen were sacked before I was sworn in as governor of Osun State, contrary to the lies being peddled, that the Chairmen and councilors were sacked by my Executive Order.
“For emphasis, l want to state that I had nothing to do with the sacking of the chairmen and councilors produced by the Osun 2022 local government polls.The Chairmen and Councilors were sacked by two different judgments of the Federal High Court Osogbo.
“The script Mr Oyetola is playing is about the most reprehensible abuse of power in this fourth republic capable of untold and unforeseen consequences on the polity.
“The general public is aware that there were two different Federal High Court judgments on the local government election of 2022. The first judgment was on the suit filed by the People Democratic Party (PDP) which sacked the product of the 2022 polls. The second judgment was on the suit filed by the Action People Party (APP), which also sacked the Chairmen and Councillors produced by the said 2022 Osun Local Government polls.
“The APC appeal against the judgment obtained by the PDP was partially successful, and the said judgment was struck out based on the timing of filing, having been filed before the notice of election was published.
“It needs to be emphasized that the judgment contains no consequential orders.The APC in its amended notice of Appeal, asked the Court of Appeal to reinstate the sacked chairmen and councilors, but the Court of Appeal in its wisdom said it has become an academic exercise. The request for the reinstatement of the Chairmen and Councilors was not granted.
“However, the Appeal by the APC against the APP judgment did not succeed at the Court of Appeal, which makes the judgment still subsisting and alive.
“The Court of Appeal dismissed the APC appeal against the judgment obtained by the APP. The only legal recourse open to the APC is to appeal the APP judgment and the subsequent rulings of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court.
“The Certified True Copies of both judgements had earlier been forwarded to the Osun state Commissioner of Police, the State Director of DSS and the state Commandant of Civil Defense by the Osun state Attorney General for their information and records.
“The Certified True Copies of both judgments are in the public domain. The judgment of the Court of Appeal on the PDP case was not ambiguous whatsoever. It simply struck out the PDP suit and did not in any of its paragraphs order the reinstatement of the sacked council chairmen and Councilors.
“It is very clear that no consequential order was made because the APP case is still subsisting. As I stated earlier, the Court of Appeal said that the request for the reinstatement of the Chairmen and Councilors has become an academic exercise.”
Adeleke further called on legal luminaries in the state to help fact check their claims by interpreting the judgement.
Gov. Adeleke added that Nigerians and the people of Osun state should hold Oyetola and Osun State security chiefs responsible for the breakdown of law and order in the state on Monday.
Gov. Adeleke admonishes the president to play by the rule of law
He also called on President Tinubu to insist on the rule of law by instructing head of security agencies in the state not to obey illegal Oder from his nephew.
He said “I therefore appeal to Mr President who is a renown democrat to insist on the rule of law by instructing the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of DSS, the Commandant General of the Civil Defense Corps not to obey an illegal order from his nephew, Mr Gboyega Oyetola. The Osun State security chiefs should also be called to order.
“I call on Mr President, to instruct the National Security Adviser, and the Attorney General of the Federation, to personally verify the fact that the Court of Appeal judgement did not reinstate the sacked local government chairmen and councilors and the fact that, there is a subsisting judgement of Court that sacked the Chairmen and Councillors produced by the 2022 local government polls.
“The Nigerian public should hold Mr Gboyega Oyetola and the Osun state security chiefs responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the state tomorrow, Monday, and beyond.
“It is unfortunate that the Osun state security chiefs are taking instructions from Mr Gboyega Oyetola just because he is the nephew of Mr. President.
“As much as we will do our best to maintain peace, we call on men and women of goodwill to intervene before it is too late.
