7 hours Ago By Opinion
The recent attacks in some local government areas in Osun State, which were largely driven by personal and small group interests, have threatened not only the relative peace that we enjoy in Osun State but also the credibility and reputation of the people of the state. Recall that on Monday, February 17, 2025, 10 persons were reportedly killed as the dispute over the status of former local government chairmen of Osun State turned bloody. Scores were injured during the free-for-all between the supporters of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
The thugs were said to have had a field day using charms, guns, cutlasses and dangerous weapons. Anxiety and apprehension enveloped the length and breadth of the state following the invasion of some local government councils by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums attempting to take over the control of the councils. According to media reports, the former APC-elected local government chairmen and councillors were sacked by the current administration for reasons best known to the governor.
However, the crisis that escalated in Osun State was triggered by a contentious Court of Appeal ruling allegedly reinstating APC-elected local government chairmen and councillors. The resumption of officials elected on the platform of APC in the October 15, 2022, Elections in the state led to the breakdown of law and order in the state. The state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in a broadcast, implored the citizens to remain calm and stay away from the local government council secretariats to avoid the destruction of government property.
The question is: When are we going to get it right? To me, regardless of political affiliation, resorting to violence to resolve a dispute is never justifiable. We must all condemn such actions in the strongest possible terms. Violence has no place in a civilized society, and those who were responsible for these dastardly acts must be brought to justice.
We should have it at the back of our minds that there is no perfect system in the world. However, some countries have advanced their democracy. Developed countries that we copy have their challenges.
But they have, over the years, developed workable strategies for solving their political differences. The whole world is watching us, so we need to put our house in order. We must give peace a chance if we are serious about developing our state.
A couple of weeks ago, Governor Adeleke had a meeting with some ambassadors in Abuja to discuss the agricultural potential of Osun State and how the state can attract foreign investors to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths as well as boost the economy of the state. The good news is that the meeting that the governor held with the ambassadors has culminated in the initiation of an Agricultural Investment Conference, which is slated for April 2025. The governor has assured would-be investors that an enabling environment would be provided for businesses to thrive in the state.
In fact, at the time I was writing this piece, about 32 ambassadors had indicated their interest in participating in the conference. However, my concern is that because of the recent crisis that erupted in the state, some of the ambassadors could change their minds. This is the more reason why we need to give peace a chance.
Related News Osun crisis: Adeleke denies changing LG accounts signatories Royal wars: Osun embroiled in conflicts as chieftaincy disputes rage in communities FG postpones council meeting amid Osun LG crisis Let me share this vital information with my good people of Osun State. Enugu State is making frantic efforts to woo foreign investors into their state. For instance, recently, some European countries have indicated their interest in setting up businesses in Enugu State.
The reason is simply because the state is peaceful. As regards the issue of local government autonomy, let me briefly take down memory lane. Recall that between 1999 and 2002, all the 774 local government areas were receiving their allocation directly from the Federal Account Allocation Committee straight from the apex bank.
However, the states later introduced the Joint Allocation Account Committee, and along the line, direct allocation to the local government councils was halted. As a result of this, the Federal Government observed that there was little or no meaningful development in the local government areas. This made the Federal Government reverse the policy.
On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to the local government councils; they can now receive their allocation directly. The problem is that some of the states are still running local government councils with caretaker committees. The Federal Government is not comfortable with this type of arrangement and has now made it mandatory that all the 774 local government areas in Nigeria should be run by democratically elected officials.
Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) stipulates that all 774 local government areas be run by democratically elected officials. Moreover, section 197 of the 1999 Constitution empowers the states through the State Independent Electoral Commissions to organise local government elections. It was on this premise that the governor of Osun State decided to organise a fresh election on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
In conclusion, for our democracy to remain relevant and sustainable in this 21st century, the political elite need to ensure that citizens have confidence in the democratic system to address their basic needs and concerns. All hands must be on deck to salvage our nascent democracy. Oladele Oladipupo writes from Agbara, Ogun State via [email protected].
