LG crises: APC, PDP trade words over Adeleke, Akande’s meeting

The political crisis rocking the Osun State over the reinstatement of sacked council Chairmen and Councillors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Appeal Court and the conduct of the controversial council poll by Governor Ademola Adeleke has further deepened.

The crisis which had claimed some lives while others were injured took a new twist  on Tuesday when governor Adeleke visited former governor Bisi Akande in his Ibadan residence, in Oyo State Capital over the matter.

The two leaders had discussions over crises regarding the control of local government areas in the state during the meeting which lasted for about two hours behind closed doors.

At the end of the meeting, Adeleke in a statement by his aide, Rasheed Adewale, said the move is the starting point of statewide consultation on the crisis.

However, the development has angered the state chapter of the APC which traded words with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over the visit to Akande.

APC while reacting to the meeting in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, berated Adeleke for going to Akande after members of the party had been killed during the mayhem that followed the resumption in office by the officials elected in the October 15, 2022, local government election in the state.

Olabisi chided Adeleke for running to Akande. “Apparently begging the distinguished democrat f landing on the prevailing political logjam on the reinstated council chairmen and councillors in the state.”

The statement further read, “It was strange that Governor Adeleke and his cohorts could find a way to Pa Akande’s residence after the Peoples Democratic Party’s thugs, acting on the governor’s body language, had killed one of the reinstated local government council chairmen of Chief Akande’s party, Hon Remi Abass, in Ikire and other members of the opposition party in the other parts of the state a few days ago.

“We want to impress it on Governor Adeleke and his co-travellers that Pa Akande is a democrat and no amount of under-the-table arrangement would make the former governor of the state work against the interest of his party. Does Governor Adeleke want Pa Akande to praise him for being instrumental in the killing of the chieftain and members of his party?

“We want to believe that there are knowledgeable political lieutenants of Governor Adeleke who should guide him aright that the proper place for him to go if at all he has any case for redress after the Akure verdict of 10th of February, 2025, is the Supreme Court.”

The APC advised Adeleke to partner with the reinstated council chairmen and councillors to ensure the dividend of democracy cut across the length and breadth of the state.

But Osun PDP, while responding to the development, commended Adeleke for kick-starting his statewide consultations with a visit to Akande.

The PDP, in a statement signed by its Osun State chairman, Sunday Bisi, described Adeleke’s visit to Akande as a sign of ‘statesmanship and a demonstration of leadership acumen’.

Bisi further said, “Note with disdain the anger of the Osun APC over Governor Adeleke’s visit to Chief Akande. We are not surprised by the vituperations of the vampire-driven elements within the Osun APC, who are bitter that their plot to destabilize Osun State has failed.

“Governor Adeleke lost six of his party members to the cold hands of death, killed by bullets from APC thugs. Yet, as a leader with a deep sense of responsibility, he has launched consultations with state elders across party lines to rebuild peace and restore the rule of law.

“Omo onilu ki fe kotu,” a Yoruba proverb, aptly describes Governor Adeleke’s actions. Only a bastard would rejoice in the recent killings perpetrated by elements within the APC. As our Governor and our party are made up of responsible men and women of this great state, we will not support setting it ablaze to satisfy the grievances of sore losers who were defeated in a free and fair election.”

The Osun PDP chairman, said Adeleke’s aim before the crises started over the control of councils in the state was to engage men and women of goodwill in salvaging Osun from further conflict.

“Genuine democrats abide by the rule of law, and that is precisely what Governor Adeleke is advocating. The governor and his party are embracing peace not out of weakness but as a demonstration of wisdom and political strength, reinforced by the massive goodwill we enjoy from the people. The people stand firmly with us, and we must protect them from political bandits and marauders who fear free and fair elections.

“Regarding the illegal occupation of local government secretariats, the party and its government are committed to using legal means to restore legitimately elected officials. We will not act like arsonists or pseudo-dictators who have lost all understanding of democracy,” he further said.

He commended the governor for his initiative and urged him to continue his consultations.