The Osun Masterminds, a civic society group, has raised alarm over the continued closure of local governments in Osun State, attributing the crisis to political maneuvering and administrative inaction.
Speaking at a press conference, the group’s Executive Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, condemned the ongoing impasse, warning that the shutdown of local government administration could severely impact the state’s finances and overall development.
“The irresponsible behavior that has crippled the local governments in Osun has been fueled by key political players, along with the poorly considered decision of local government employees to abandon their duties,” Oyedokun-Alli stated.
He criticized the failure of newly sworn-in local government chairmen to assume office a month after their inauguration, questioning the Osun State Government’s handling of the crisis. The group urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to take decisive steps, including legal consultations with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and potential appeals to higher courts, to resolve the dispute.
However, the group also called on the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to reconsider their stance, emphasizing that their continued absence from work contributes to the governance breakdown.
Furthermore, beyond the local government crisis, the Osun Masterminds expressed concern over rising communal clashes, warning that the combination of governance failure and security instability could lead to a total breakdown of order in the state.
“We do not live in a banana republic. Such critical issues of governance cannot be resolved with press releases. All stakeholders must act responsibly,” Oyedokun-Alli said.
The group urged immediate intervention from all concerned parties to restore functionality at the grassroots level and prevent further disruption to the state’s development.
