Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed residents, including politicians across political divides, to stay away from the local government secretariats to protect public properties and avoid further bloodshed.
On Monday, The New Daily Prime gathered that Remi Abass, the allegedly reinstated Chairman of Irewole Local Government in Osun State, was reportedly murdered by armed thugs believed to be loyal to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after they took control of the council’s secretariat in Ikire.
This follows a dispute between the two major political parties over control of the local government, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) asserting that a recent Court of Appeal ruling had reinstated the previously dismissed council officials, while the State Government contends that the Federal High Court in Osogbo had annulled the election.
Abbas was said to have, accompanied by other former council officials, attempted to seize the secretariat per the court’s ruling.
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However, their efforts were met with a violent confrontation when thugs, reportedly associated with the PDP, arrived and attacked them.
Sources reported that gunfire ensued during the clash, resulting in Abass’s death and injuries to several others.
Meanwhile, other assailants also disrupted traffic on the nearby highway, firing shots into the air and causing widespread panic, forcing motorists to divert their routes to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
In response to what the governor called an illegal APC takeover bid of local governments, as stated by Olawale Rasheed, his spokesperson, he affirmed that, since local government workers were on strike, only security agencies should be permitted to oversee the secretariats.
“I therefore direct all law-abiding Osun residents to stay away from the council secretariats, especially as they are expected to be under lock and key.
“I equally condole families of victims of the APC illegal takeover bid and chaos unleashed across the state by the APC and their hired thugs. PDP lost five members with several others wounded. Two of those members are from Iragbiji, Boripe local government. Another two were killed at Ola Oluwa Local government. Another one was lost at Ikire. We must stop the bloodshed”, the governor said.
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He assured residents of their safety and the protection of lives and property, affirming that he had directed security agencies to take charge of all local government secretariats.
