By Temitope Adedeji
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is under siege as Governor Ademola Adeleke approved the sack of 12,000 workers and ordered the dethronement of three monarchs.
Adeleke also nullified the appointment of 30 Permanent Secretaries and suspended the chairman and members of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC).
The immediate past governor Adegboyega Oyetola employed the sacked workers and 30 permanent secretaries in late July.
Monarchs dethroned by Adeleke include Akinrun of Ikinrun Oba Yinusa Akadiri; Aree of Ire Oba Ademola Oluponle and Owa of Igbajo, Oba Gboyega Famodun. He ordered the monarch to vacate the palace, asking security operatives to take over.
Adeleke in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Olawale Rasheed said he signed the Executives orders which covered chieftaincy matters, appointments issues, setting up of review panel, staff audit and employment matters.”
“All employments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals after July 17th, 2022 be and are hereby nullified.
“Executive Order number five on Chieftaincy Affairs and appointment of traditional rulers. All appointments of traditional rulers made by Osun State Government after 17th July, 2022, are hereby ordered to be reviewed to ensure there was strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies.
“In the case of Ikirun, Iree and Igbajo, to avoid further breakdown of law and order, the appointments of Akinrun of Ikinrun, Aree of Ire and Owa of Igbajo are hereby put on hold pending review. Subsequently, the palaces of Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo should remain unoccupied, while security agencies are hereby ordered to take charge.”
Secretary to Osun State Government, Tesleem Igbalaye, in a statement also announced the suspension of the chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Mr. Segun Oladitan and its members.
Others are: Yusuf Oyeniran, Suibat Adubi, Prince Yinka Ajiboye, Abosede Omibeku, Dosu Gidigbi, and Wahab Adewoyin.
Meanwhile, the APC added that members of the party have become targets since the governor took charge on Sunday.
The party also alleged that 500 of its members have been attacked by hoodlums since Sunday.
Acting APC Chairman in the state, Tajudeen Lawal, said the return of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into governance in Osun “has marked the continuation of brigandage and political siege of yesteryears”
