Two civil society groups in Osun State, Initiative for Local Government Development and Centre for Justice and Community Advocacy have called on President Bola Tinubu to consider a state of emergency in Osun State over what it described as continued disregard for court orders on local government administration.
The groups made the call on Friday at a press conference held NUJ Press Centre in Osogbo, the state capital.
Reading the address, Spokespersons of the groups, Comrade Juliet Kanyinsola Adebayo, Faith Ayomide Adeniyi and Opeyemi Amusan accused the state government of disobedience to lawful orders of the court over local government matter.
The groups said, “Tragically, this lawlessness has already claimed innocent lives. We must state clearly and without equivocation that the refusal of Governor Ademola Adeleke to obey the judgment of the Court of Appeal has created the atmosphere of violence that led to these deaths.
“Most painfully, the Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Hon. Remi Abass was brutally killed by political thugs within the premises of the Irewole Local Government Secretariat in Ikire. This was not an accident. It was the direct outcome of a breakdown of constitutional authority and the encouragement of illegality.
“A democracy where elected or lawfully recognised officials are murdered in their offices has descended into anarchy.
“We call on the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to urgently intervene to prevent further loss of lives. The Senate’s intervention and approval in the case of Rivers State were justified to prevent anarchy. Osun State has already experienced anarchy and remains under serious threat if urgent action is not taken.
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police to hasten investigation and prosecution of all those responsible for the killing of Hon. Remi Abass, the Chairman of Irewole Local Government, in Ikire. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done. Although some suspects are currently facing criminal charges in a federal high court in Abuja, the police authority must ensure that some suspects said to be on the run and at-large are immediately apprehended.
“We call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to declare a state of emergency in Osun State, strictly within the confines of the Constitution, for the purpose of restoring the rule of law, enforcing court judgments, and protecting innocent citizens.
Justifying its call for a state of emergency, the group said the ongoing impasse,.loss of lives and looming crisis are reasons behind the call.
The group said, “Tragically, this lawlessness has already claimed innocent lives. We must state clearly and without equivocation that the refusal of Governor Ademola Adeleke to obey the judgment of the Court of Appeal has created the atmosphere of violence that led to these deaths.
“Most painfully, the Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Hon. Remi Abass, was brutally killed by political thugs within the premises of the Irewole Local Government Secretariat in Ikire. This was not an accident. It was the direct outcome of a breakdown of constitutional authority and the encouragement of illegality.”
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