By Emmanuel Oladesu
…..‘Governor targeting council funds’
Former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, has criticized Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for conducting what he described as illegal chairmanship and councillorship elections across the state’s 30 local government areas.
Omisore accused the governor and the state electoral commission of engaging in a futile exercise by organizing a poll to fill non-existent vacancies, despite a court ruling reinstating the previously elected council chairmen and councillors.
In a statement, Omisore condemned the Osun State Government’s disregard for the rule of law, asserting that it ignored legal advice in a desperate bid to violate a subsisting court judgment. He emphasized that the Court of Appeal ruling was unequivocal in reinstating the local government officials, yet the Adeleke-led administration proceeded with the election in defiance of judicial authority.
He alleged that Adeleke was determined to push ahead with the controversial polls to justify misusing local government funds, thereby plunging the state into an avoidable crisis. According to Omisore, the insistence on holding the election was a clear attempt to manipulate council resources under the guise of governance.
Describing the election as a “shameless charade,” Omisore accused the state electoral commission of acting at the behest of its paymaster. He lambasted the governor for wasting public resources, influencing the judiciary to overturn a superior court ruling, and disregarding wise counsel.
“Disobeying court orders and judgments, squandering Osun State’s resources, and desperately attempting to manipulate the judiciary all amount to a heinous crime against democracy and humanity,” Omisore stated.
He warned that if there was a breakdown of law and order in Osun, Governor Adeleke should be held responsible.
“Adeleke has acted against common sense and set the stage for chaos. But God will not allow it. The governor is inviting a state of emergency in Osun. This entire exercise was nothing more than a disgraceful spectacle dancing taken too far,” Omisore concluded.
