A group, The Osun Masterminds have charged the state government to carry along all stakeholders and political parties and obey all relevant laws if it intends to conduct local government election in the state.
The group warned that it was aware of accusations between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the rumoured intentions of the state government to conduct local government election before leaving office in November.
In a statement signed by Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, its Executive Director, the group while acknowledging that the local government election was long overdue, added that the government must go about the exercise in such a way that it leaves proper legacy of inclusive governance.
It said to address the fears that would be created by conducting such an election, there is need to inclusively plan so that such fears will be addressed.
The statement read, “We are also aware of the accusations and counter accusations between the APC and the PDP over the rumoured intention of the Oyetola-led government to conduct Local Government elections before he leaves office in November.
”We wish to state unequivocally that if the current government deems it fit to conduct a Local government election, it must only do so if all stakeholders, including the PDP, are carried along and all relevant laws are obeyed.
“We are a people governed by laws and must ensure that we do not at any point in time, fail to obey the laws of our land.
”The local government election is long overdue but if the present government thinks it necessary to conduct, it must be about leaving a proper legacy of inclusive governance and not setting landmines for his successor.
“While there is a really narrow line between these two, we believe that with inclusive planning, the fears will be addressed and the State will be the ultimate winner.”
Recall that the Osun State chapter of the PDP had warned against the conduct of local government elections in the state.
The party warned the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola and the OSSIEC against going ahead with the purported planned local government election in the state.
The Osun PDP in a statement signed by Oladele Olabamiji, its Director of Media, also described the purported election as unlawful, illegal and criminal.
Reacting, the OSSIEC spokesperson, Babatunde Fanawopo also claimed that it is only the Commission that has the power to conduct the election.
Fanawopo who stated that the Commission has not come out with a fixed date for the election, added that it was only the Commission’s Chairman that can announce the date for such an election. Continue Reading
