Gov Adeleke warns new council chairmen, councillors against secretariat showdown

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has advised newly inaugurated local government chairmen and councillors to stay away from their respective council secretariats due to an ongoing dispute over their occupancy.

WESTERN POST reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier directed its reinstated local government chairmen and councillors to resume at their various secretariats on Monday.

Speaking at the inauguration of the newly elected local government chairmen on Sunday, Adeleke emphasized the need to uphold the rule of law and allow the judiciary to resolve the matter peacefully.

He reminded them of the Osun State High Court ruling, which had declared the positions of chairmen and councillors vacant before the election held on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

Adeleke urged patience as the legal process unfolds.

“I urge you and your councillors to stay away from the council secretariats to avoid any clash with those whom the police aided in forcefully occupying the local government secretariats,” he said.

“An Osun State High Court affirmed the vacancies in both the chairman and councillor positions across all local governments in Osun State before your election on February 22, 2025.

“We will, therefore, rely on the judiciary to ensure the peaceful removal of those illegally occupying the secretariats. Please be patient and always abide by the rule of law.”

The governor charged the newly elected chairmen to be agents of change, foster community development, and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Adeleke also appreciated President Bola Tinubu for rejecting attempts by certain forces to plunge the state into chaos.

Also speaking at the event, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, cautioned against resorting to violence or self-help, even in the face of court rulings.

“We don’t want a return to the days of the ‘Wild Wild West.’ They should stay away from this zone. We want to peacefully provide the dividends of democracy to the people.

“They should not resort to self-help, even if there is a court judgment. They should not assume that having federal might gives them an advantage. This is a federal arrangement,” Makinde said.

The event was also attended by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.