Osun LG crisis: Reps urge security chiefs to restore peace, order

In a bid to restore law and order in Osun State following attempts to reinstate sacked council chairmen sparked bloody violence, the House of Representatives has urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director General of the Department of State Services(DSS), Mr. Adeola Ajayi, to intervene without delay.

The lawmakers’ plea was prompted by the violence that erupted in the South-West state on Monday, resulting in the tragic loss of at least six lives.

The chaos erupted when sacked APC local government chairmen and councillors tried to return to the councils but were met with fierce resistance from PDP supporters.

This move was an attempt to enforce the Court of Appeal’s judgment which had overturned their removal by the Federal High Court, Osogbo, in November 2022.

The confrontation left a trail of destruction of properties across the local government areas in the state.

In a unanimous move, the entire state caucus in the House sponsored a motion of urgent public importance, read on the floor by the member representing Ede North/Ede South/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal Constituency, Rep. Bamidele Salam.

Salam said violence erupted in multiple locations across the state on Monday as a result of an attempt to take over the administration of local governments by officials who were sacked by court judgement in November 2022.

He said: “The House is disturbed that the sacked officials are now breaking the gates of their respective local government secretariat to forcefully take over the government of the local government without any court order.

“The Governor of Osun State as the Chief Security officer of the state had raised an alarm on Sunday, February 16, about an imminent threat to peace and security in the state while calling on the Inspector General of Police and other heads of security formations to take proactive steps to forestall the violence.

“The House is concerned that if the current trend of resort to self-help by political actors is not nipped in the bud, it might encourage citizens to do the same in the face of perceived rights and privileges.”

He also cautioned that “the present situation in Osun State might snowball into a free-for-all unless relevant authorities take urgent actions.”

The caucus expressed optimism that the Nigerian Police would be able to effectively contain the crisis and restore order.

With the opposition’s overwhelming backing, the House presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, urged the IGP and DG, DSS and other security heads to ensure normalcy and restore order throughout the state.

The Speaker subsequently announced the formation of an ad-hoc committee, tasked with investigating the crisis, to be chaired by former Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, with Rep. Fred Agbedi serving as Deputy Chairman.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command said it has begun manhunt for those responsible for the violence that erupted on Monday.

In a statement on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, expressed sympathy with those who lost loved ones and property.

Opalola said Police Commissioner Mohammed Abba promised a thorough investigation would be conducted to arrest the perpetrators and make them face the full wrath of the law.

The police asked the residents to remain calm and exercise patience for the operatives to carry out their lawful duties and restore peace.