Crises in Osun council secretariats amid reinstatement of APC’s chairmen

…Irewole LG chairman, two others killed

…Adeleke orders lockdown of LG secretariats

Remi Abass, an embattled Chairman of Irewole Local Government, who was elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) was killed by political thugs on Monday. Two other persons believed to be members of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Boripe Local Government of the State, were also killed.

Pandemonium, which accounted for the deaths of the Council Chairman and two other persons by yet-to-be-identified political thugs, broke out following Court of Appeal judgement delivered last week that was said to have reinstated all All Progressives Congress, APC Councils’ Chairmen and Councilors earlier sacked from office by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP-led Government of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

BusinessDau gathered that Abass was killed on Monday in Ikire, the Headquarters of Irewole Local Government, while attempting to resume office.

Read also: Adeleke raises alarm over alleged plot to unleash mayhem in Osun

An eye-witness, Jamiu Olawumi, a chieftain of APC, who said Abass was killed while crossing the highway to the Ikire Secretariat of the Local Government to resume to office, called on the Federal Government to call Governor Ademola Adeleke and his aides to order for the safety of the people in the State.

Speaking at the Boripe Local Government Headquarters in Iragbiji, Korede Ajeigbe, the Commissioner for Government Affairs and Protocol, confirmed the deaths of two members of the PDP.

Ajeigbe also said that about six members of their party also sustained various degree of injuries, alleging that some APC thugs led by one Adebayo Adeleke, a former Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, who served under the former Adegboyega Oyetola’s Government invaded the Secretariat.

When contacted, Yemisi Opalola, Osun State Police Spokesperson, said security personnel had been deployed to the affected areas to restore peace and order.
Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has ordered the lockdown of all Local Government Secretariats amid escalating unrest in the Councils.

The governor directed that residents including politicians across political divides to stay away from the Local Councils’ Secretariats to protect public properties and avoid further bloodshed.

Reacting to the bloody clash that erupted across the Local Governments in the State, Governor Adeleke, in a statement by Rasheed Olawale, his Spokesperson, affirmed that since the Local Government workers are on strike, only security Agencies should be allowed to man the Secretariats.

The governor said, “I therefore direct all law abiding Osun residents to stay away from the council secretariats especially as they are expected to be under lock and key.

“I equally condole families of victims of the APC illegal takeover bid and chaos unleashed across the state by the APC and their hired thugs. PDP lost five members with several others wounded. Two of those members are from Iragbiji, Boripe local government. Another two were killed at Ola Oluwa Local government. Another one was lost at Ikire. We must stop the bloodshed.”