Governor Ademola Adeleke has raised an alarm over what he described as a “brazen assault on democracy,” accusing his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, of using federal might to sustain an illegal occupation of Local Government Secretariats across Osun State.
The governor in his state broadcast highlighted a deepening constitutional crisis involving court-sacked officials, withheld billions in federation allocations, and allegations of professional misconduct against a major commercial bank.
Adeleke clarified that the current impasse stems from the refusal of APC chairmen and councillors—whose 2022 elections were nullified by the Federal High Court and affirmed by the Court of Appeal—to vacate office.
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Despite fresh local government elections held on February 22, 2025, and the subsequent swearing-in of new officials, Adeleke alleged that the “impostors” are using armed police protection to shut out lawful workers.
“The court removed them, not me,” Adeleke declared. “Yet, they have continued to occupy the secretariats by brute force… emboldened by the backing of the Nigerian Police, as allegedly instructed by former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.”
A major highlight of the broadcast was the governor’s scathing critique of United Bank for Africa (UBA).
He accused the bank of allowing unauthorised persons to remain signatories to local government accounts, leading to the illegal disbursement of millions to the sacked APC officials.
He said approximately N130 billion in local government statutory allocations is currently being withheld by the Federal Government.
Adeleke revealed that senior UBA managers are already facing criminal prosecution for aiding the diversion of these funds.
The governor noted that the state has been forced to borrow from its own treasury to pay teachers, nurses, and local government workers for nearly 12 months, causing a delay in major infrastructure projects.
Adeleke dismissed claims that the Presidency is behind the chaos, suggesting instead that Oyetola is using President Bola Tinubu’s name without his knowledge to manipulate federal institutions.
The governor made three key demands, presidential intervention to rescue Osun LGs from the vice grip of those with lapsed tenures, and restraint of Oyetola to stop the alleged issuance of illegal directives to the Nigerian Police.
He also demanded an end to the siege for the police to stop intimidating civil servants who attempted to return to work but were met with violence.
READ ALSO: Osun PDP crisis deepens as state exco rejects dissolution, backs Adeleke
The governor warned that the ultimate goal of the opposition is to provoke violence and manufacture a crisis that would justify the imposition of a state of Emergency in Osun, leading to the suspension of his administration.
He urged citizens to remain peaceful, promising that his government would continue to choose “restraint and maturity” over anarchy.
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