Osun LG crisis: Group urges traditional rulers to intervene
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –
A socio-political group in Osun State, the Osun Pathfinder Team (OPT), has called on the Council of Traditional Rulers, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, to intervene in the lingering local government crisis in the state.
In a statement jointly signed on Saturday by the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Hon. Lukman Afolabi, and the State Coordinator, Hon. Diti Aluko, the group said the crisis is eroding governance and threatening grassroots development.
OPT emphasized that as custodians of Yoruba culture and symbols of unity, the traditional rulers possess the moral authority to broker peace and help restore stability to the local government system.
“The Osun Pathfinder Team respectfully requests that Your Royal Majesties use your esteemed positions to seek a lasting solution in collaboration with President Bola Tinubu’s administration,” the statement read.
The group expressed concern that elected local government officials under the PDP, backed by the June 13 Court of Appeal judgment, are being undermined by opposition forces, including the “Yes/No” APC chairmen, leading to tension and administrative gridlock.
OPT also condemned the withholding of allocations to the 30 local governments by the federal government for over three months, describing it as a setback to the developmental plans of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.
The group noted that the seizure of funds is affecting not only governance but also the welfare of traditional rulers whose stipends depend on local government allocations.
It further appealed to the Ooni of Ife and other prominent monarchs, including the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Clement Haastrup; the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi; the Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal; and the Olowu of Kuta, Oba Hammed Adekunle Makama, to act swiftly and prevent the crisis from destabilizing Osun State.
