Tension has gripped Osun State in recent days following violent attempts by hoodlums to take over local government secretariats across the state. The crisis has caused widespread panic, particularly among residents living near the affected areas, as gunshots rang out and many residents fled for safety.
The crisis reportedly started early on Monday morning, when armed thugs reportedly stormed the council offices, including those in Osogbo and Olorunda, and began shooting sporadically. Many residents, especially students on their way to school, had to retreat to their homes, while drivers abandoned the affected routes due to the chaos.
As of 8:00 am on Monday, the situation was still tense in parts of Osogbo and Olorunda, with heavy gunfire disrupting normal activities in the area. However, security operatives were quickly deployed, and their presence managed to prevent the hoodlums from gaining full access to the government offices. Witnesses reported that some of the hoodlums were allegedly affiliated with political parties, which added a layer of complexity to the situation.
The clashes were not limited to Osogbo and Olorunda. The unrest also spread to other local government areas (LGAs) like Iragbiji, Odo-Otin, and Ife Central, where similar incidents occurred. Videos obtained from these areas showed violent confrontations between thugs allegedly loyal to both the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). In some of these videos, clashes were witnessed in front of security operatives who had been deployed to restore order.
The recent events in Osun State appear to be closely linked to the ongoing political rivalry between the PDP and APC. The root cause of the violence lies in the attempts by some sacked APC council chairmen to forcibly return to their positions, despite the fact that they had been removed by the state government under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Governor Adeleke, who assumed office after his victory in the July 2022 elections, has been at odds with his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, and the APC. According to reports, Oyetola had sought to reinstate the sacked chairmen, who are aligned with the APC, citing a Court of Appeal ruling from Akure. The court order allegedly instructed the reinstatement of the APC chairmen, a decision which Governor Adeleke has been reluctant to comply with, given the political implications.
On Sunday, Governor Adeleke raised an alarm over the attempts by his predecessor and the APC to forcefully return the chairmen to office. He accused them of instigating the unrest at the council offices, saying that the actions were part of a wider plot to undermine his government.
Oyetola, in response, demanded that Governor Adeleke obey the Court of Appeal ruling, which he claims has legally reinstated the sacked chairmen. The disagreement between the two political leaders has further deepened the political divide in Osun State, and the unrest at the council offices is seen as a direct reflection of this intense rivalry.
The political disagreement over the reinstatement of the council chairmen has given rise to violent confrontations between political thugs, who appear to be exploiting the situation for their own gain. In several areas of Osun State, including the Ifelodun Local Government Area in Ikirun, videos surfaced showing suspected thugs clashing at the local government secretariat. These clashes were reportedly happening in the presence of security agents who were stationed at the location to keep the peace.
Despite the heavy security presence, the violence and chaos continued, highlighting the difficulty in controlling the situation. Many residents of Osun have expressed concerns over the safety of their communities and the ability of security agencies to restore order in the face of such lawlessness.
It is not clear who is directly behind the attacks, but reports indicate that thugs loyal to both the APC and PDP have been involved in the clashes. The violence has resulted in widespread fear, with local residents calling for immediate action to ensure the safety of all citizens in the state.
The ongoing power struggle between Governor Ademola Adeleke and former Governor Gboyega Oyetola is central to the political crisis in Osun State. Adeleke, a member of the PDP, has been engaged in a battle with Oyetola of the APC over the legitimacy of the sacked council chairmen.
Adeleke’s administration had previously dismissed the chairmen after accusing them of mismanagement, and it has become a point of contention between the two political camps. The recent violence at the local government offices has only intensified the political divide, with both parties accusing each other of using underhanded tactics to secure political power.
As violence continues to rock Osun State, calls for peace and stability have been growing. Civil society organisations, local community leaders, and concerned citizens have urged the state and federal governments to act swiftly to restore order.
In a statement issued by the Osun State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the association condemned the violence and called for the protection of citizens’ rights. “The recent incidents of violence and the attempts to seize local government offices are not only unlawful but also a threat to the peace and stability of Osun State,” the statement read. “We urge all stakeholders to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict, and we call on the security agencies to take firm action to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Meanwhile, local residents have expressed their frustrations, with many calling for a greater police presence in the affected areas.