Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has urged the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; and other religious leaders in the state to prevail on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye, to shelve plans to conduct local government election in the state.
A statement issued on Thursday by the chairman of the PDP Media Management Committee in Osun State, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said from all indications, Owoeye plans to arm-twist his colleagues in the assembly, and reverse the six months extension granted the current caretaker committees managing the affairs of councils in the state.
According to him, the move to reverse the six months extension was to pave the way to hurriedly conduct local government elections that Oyetola and Owoeye want to use as “bobby trap” for the incoming PDP administration.
Odeyemi also said the plan to hurriedly conduct the local government elections was part of many problems the outgoing administration wanted to create for the incoming administration of the governor-elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke.
He recalled how “political underhand dealings” by the then Alliance for Democracy (AD) administration between 2001 and 2003 sneaked to the House of Assembly and allegedly ended the life of lawmaker representing Ife Central State Constituency at the time, Odunayo Olagbaju, which he said plunged the state into political crises.
Odeyemi, therefore, appealed to all stakeholders in the affairs of the state to prevail on the governor not to thinker with the idea of local government election after losing his re-election.
“We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Grand Imam of Osun State, Sheik Musa Animashaun; Araba Awo of Osogbo, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, and other stakeholders to prevail on those that want to plunge the state into crises to desist from their evil plans.
“What moral justification does Oyetola have to want to conduct the LG elections after he had lost his re-election bid? What was he doing since the beginning of the year that he did not deem it fit to conduct the poll? Why did he renew the six months tenure of these caretaker committee members just one month ago only to wake up after a crushing defeat now and want to conduct election after he started writing his handover notes?
“We know Oyetola has nothing to lose if everyone in Osun State dies, having pauperised them in the last four years through many inhuman means. But we are warning Owoeye also not to be a willing tool in this perilous adventure.
“Adejare Bello was the Speaker of the state House of Assembly when Rauf Aregbesola became the governor in 2010, and he worked with him till June 2011. He considered his name and reputation before any other considerations. Owoeye should think about himself first and what will become of his life after leaving office. For any life lost to the impending crises Oyetola and his co-travellers are hell-bent on creating, Owoeye and his colleagues in All Progressives Congress (APC) will be held responsible,” Odeyemi said.
