Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu to caution Governor Ademola Adeleke and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over alleged attempts to twist Friday’s Supreme Court judgment on local government allocations to incite violence.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Tajudeen Lawal, the Osun APC state chairman, the party alleged that the state government was deliberately misrepresenting the ruling, which struck out the suit filed by the Osun Attorney-General against the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The APC claimed that Governor Adeleke, state PDP chairman Sunday Bisi, and Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, had been taking turns to misinform the public about the verdict.
According to the statement, PDP leaders had “perfected coordinated plans to attack APC members across local councils following the court ruling.”
The party alleged that “five of its members were attacked at Otan-Aiyegbaju in Boluwaduro local government by suspected thugs led by one Felix Falola, also known as Agba, shortly after the judgment was delivered.”
It described as surprising the comments made by Commissioner Alimi during a radio programme in Osogbo, accusing him of twisting the judgement and inciting unrest.
The APC said, “giving details of the ruling, the Supreme Court held on 5 December that statutory allocations must be paid directly to local government councils.
“The court affirmed that each tier of government is autonomous, and that local governments have exclusive control over their funds.”
The party further quoted the judgment as stating that, “the Osun Attorney-General lacked the locus standi to institute the case because there was no dispute between the state and the federal government, and that only local governments could sue regarding their funds.”
The statement noted that, “the Supreme Court struck out the case as incompetent, with the lead judgment delivered by Justice Muhammed Idris and supported by six other justices, while Justice Emmanuel Agim dissented.”
The APC questioned claims of victory by the state government, asking, “How can a person’s case be declared incompetent and struck out, and the person be claiming victory?”
It also queried alleged references by PDP leaders to sit-at-home chairmen and councillors, insisting that the court made no such pronouncement.
“We are cautioning Governor Adeleke to desist from any actions and inactions capable of disturbing the public peace,” the statement read.
The party urged its supporters to remain law-abiding and committed to the rule of law as political tensions continue in the state.
