Chairmen and councillors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the October 15, 2022, local government elections have resumed duties in 14 local government areas (LGAs) across Osun State. Their return to office took place on Wednesday morning, with many APC members accompanying them to the secretariats.
Reports from the ground indicate that the affected LGAs include Ila, Ede South, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade, and Obokun. Others are Ejigbo, Iwo, Ayedire, and Boripe. Security personnel, including police tactical teams, operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS), and armed squads from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were present at various locations to ensure order.
Former Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Jamiu Olawumi, confirmed that by 10 a.m., the chairmen and councillors had resumed at the 14 local government secretariats. He also stated that there were no reports of violence.
“We have 14 as of 10 a.m. They are Ila, Ede South, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade, and Obokun. Ejigbo, Iwo, Ayedire, and Boripe. Security was top-notch. Members of the police tactical team, an armed squad of civil defence, and DSS are all present around the secretariat. We commend Governor Adeleke, but that is not enough,” Olawumi said.
He further noted concerns about the presence of unfamiliar individuals around the state, urging the government to ensure that thugs and cultists do not disrupt peace in the region.
“They should take away thugs they brought here. They have them in town. If you move around, you will see different faces that you have not seen here. They should not encourage those militants and cultists to kill the Osun people,” he added.
Olawumi also stated that the enforcement of a recent court judgment played a role in the resumption of the APC officials, urging Governor Ademola Adeleke to seek support from key government officials, including the President and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to ensure smooth governance.
“It is dawn on them that the judgment is enforceable. The governor should make an attempt to see the President, Chief of Staff to the President, or the IGP. He should do that much for us so that the vision of developing Osun within his current tenure will be achieved.
“Our chairmen and councillors are ready to work with him, though they are different tiers of government,” Olawumi stated.
