Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has met with former interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, to discuss the ongoing dispute over control of local government areas in the state.
The meeting, which held at Akande’s Ibadan residence, was seen as a move to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
Adeleke was accompanied by top officials of the state government, including the Secretary to the State Government,
Teslim Igbalaiye, and the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi.
The meeting was described as cordial, with both parties agreeing on the need to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.
However, the APC has kicked against the meeting, accusing Adeleke of seeking Akande’s intervention to secure a
“soft landing” for the reinstatement of local government chairmen and councillors.
The party’s spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, described the meeting as a “desperate attempt” by Adeleke to save his administration from collapse.
The APC also accused Adeleke of being responsible for the killing of one of its reinstated local government chairmen,
Hon. Remi Abass, and other party members in different parts of the state.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke
The party insisted that Akande, as a seasoned democrat, would not compromise the interests of his party.
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In response to the APC’s criticisms, the Osun PDP lauded Adeleke for initiating statewide consultations,
describing his visit to Akande as a demonstration of leadership and statesmanship.
The party’s chairman, Sunday Bisi, dismissed the APC’s allegations, saying they were baseless and unfounded.
Bisi also criticized the APC for allegedly encouraging lawlessness by supporting what he described as the “illegal occupation” of local government offices by reinstated officials.
He reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to using legal means to restore duly elected officials and maintain stability in the state.
The crisis over control of local government areas in Osun has been ongoing for several weeks,
with both the APC and PDP trading accusations and counter-accusations.
The dispute has led to violence in some parts of the state, resulting in the loss of lives and property.
The meeting between Adeleke and Akande has been seen as a positive step towards finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
However, it remains to be seen whether the two parties can reach a compromise on the disputed local government areas.
The Osun State Government has insisted that it will continue to explore all
avenues to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.
The government has also reassured residents of the state of its commitment to maintaining law and order.
