Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke is seeking truce with some notable stakeholders over the current local government crisis in the state.
On Tuesday,the governor visited the pioneer National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande on the crisis which resulted in the death of six Persons while other injured.
Adeleke during visit to Chief Akande at his Ibadan residence briefed him and sought his wise counsel on controversies over local government leadership in the state.
He is also scheduled to meet the council of State Traditional rulers chair by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi on Thursday.
The Governor accompanied by top state officials also discussed pressing state and national issues with the former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued by spokesperson to Governor Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, he narrated the position of the state government over recent legal controversies and restated his committment to rule of law for the resolution of the issues.
According to him, there is need for all stakeholders to avoid resorting to self-help to avoid further loss of lives and properties, repeating his earlier calls on parties to return to court for ventilation of their viewpoints.
He appreciated the consensus building roles of Chief Akande in stabilization of the national leadership, declaring that Osun state is proud of the elder statesman.
He conveyed the support of the Osun state government for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, informing the elder statesman that the state government enjoys warm partnership with the Federal Government across all sectors.
“Our father, we are here to pay homage to you as my predecessor and as an elder statesman. I am also going round to brief our leaders on recent developments in our dear state.
“Your relationship with the Adeleke’s family dated back to my late Dad. I choose to start the consultation with this visit”, he noted.
Chief Akande commended the Governor for the visit, describing the development as a welcome one despite differences in political affiliations.
He said he had listened to the presentations from the delegations even as he urged continued upholding of peace and rule of law for the collective benefits of the state.
The former Governor said bloodshed in the name of politics is unacceptable, calling on alll parties to submit to the rule of law and avoidance of self help.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state carpeted Governor Adeleke saying his visit to Chief Akande in Ibadan cannot bail him from the current political logjam in the state.
The party in a statement issued by its Director of media, Mogaji Kola Olabisi berated Governor Adeleke for allegedly running to Chief Bisi Akande apparently begging for soft landing on the prevailing political logjam on the reinstated council chairmen and councillors in the state.
The statement said:”it was strange that Governor Adeleke and his cohorts could find a way to Pa Akande’s residence after the Peoples Democratic Party’s thugs, acting on the governor’s body language, had killed one of the reinstated local government council chairmen of Chief Akande’s party, Hon Remi Abass, in Ikire and other members of the opposition party in the other parts of the state few days ago.
“We want to impress it on Governor Adeleke and his co-travellers that Pa Akande is a democrat and no amount of under-the-table arrangement would make the former governor of the state to work against the interest of his party.
“Does Governor Adeleke want Pa Akande to be praising him for being instrumental to the killing of the chieftain and members of his party?
“We want to believe that there are knowledgeable political lieutenants of Governor Adeleke who should guide him aright that the proper place for him to go if at all he has any case for redress after the Akure verdict of 10th of February, 2025, is the Supreme Court.
“It does not add up that a governor whose directive resulted into the killings of our members and others across the state could think he could fool the people again through the back door.
“The walkabout of Governor Adeleke and his acolytes to Pa Akande pointed to the fact that they have lost the game irredeemably.
“If we may ask, why is Governor Adeleke afraid of approaching the Supreme Court for redress if indeed he is convinced that he has a genuine case?
“We find it difficult to find a rationale where a robber would be pleading with the owner of an item to allow him to steal his property. It is a mirage that will never come to reality.
“Our golden advice to the troubled Governor Adeleke is that he should partner with the reinstated council chairmen and councillors to ensure dividend of democracy cut across the length and breadth of the state”.
