Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke has urged President Bola Tinubu to rein in his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola, over alleged plans to destabilise the state.
At a press conference on Sunday, Adeleke accused Oyetola, now minister of marine and blue economy, of orchestrating moves to enforce a court ruling reinstating local government chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor alleged that Oyetola was using his influence as Tinubu’s nephew to pressure security agencies into executing an “illegal” directive, warning that Osun people would resist any attempt to forcefully impose the APC chairmen.
“I called this press conference to alert the national and global audience about a deliberate plot to create chaos and anarchy in Osun State,” Adeleke said.
“This evil plot is being spearheaded by the minister of marine and blue economy, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, in active collaboration with the Osun State commissioner of police, the Osun State director of DSS, and the state commandant of the Civil Defence Corps.
“Before I continue this address, let me affirm that I know Mr. President to be a true democrat, a lover of rule of law, and a believer in the sanctity of the judicial process.
“I know, as a matter of fact, that Mr. President will never authorise a dictatorial violation of the constitution irrespective of who is involved.
“It is crucial to add that Mr. President will never support any action that is capable of generating bloodbath and bloodshed.
“I, however, regret to inform Mr. President and the public that Mr Gboyega Oyetola has concluded an arrangement to cause mayhem in Osun state starting from Monday.
“He is issuing illegal directives to security operatives to enforce illegality simply because he is the nephew of Mr. President.
“I chose to alert the nation before my people are killed or maimed by a minister dropping the name of Mr. President in connivance with the Osun state security operatives obeying unlawful orders.
“The bone of contention is the brazen effrontery to return to office council chairmen sacked by a subsisting court judgment using a different court decision, which has no consequential order.
“Let me make it clear that the said council chairmen were sacked before I was sworn in as governor of Osun state, contrary to the lies being peddled, that the chairmen and councilors were sacked by my executive order.”
Adeleke urged Tinubu to direct national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu and attorney general Lateef Fagbemi to verify the court order, adding that the president’s democratic credentials were being tested by the unfolding situation.
“I know Mr. President to be a democrat and a believer in the rule of law. He will not support any action capable of causing bloodshed,” Adeleke said.
The governor warned that Osun people would not hesitate to protect themselves if Oyetola’s alleged plans were allowed to materialise.
