Osun State is currently experiencing heightened political tension, following reports of killings amid an ongoing political crisis. On Monday, opposition parties called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the state, as violence escalated over the reinstatement of local government officials. However, the state government has strongly rejected the call, accusing the opposition of deliberately stoking unrest to achieve political gains.
The violence that unfolded in Osun State on Monday has left several people dead, with at least two fatalities reported. The killings occurred as local government chairmen and councillors, reinstated by a court ruling, attempted to resume office in the state’s 30 local government councils. These officials, claiming to enforce the rule of law, faced resistance in several areas, including Oshogbo (the state capital), Ikire, and Irewole. The unrest led to the death of one of the reinstated council chairmen, Remi Abbas.
This conflict has sparked a fierce political debate, with the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) blaming each other for the violence.
Senator Ajibola Basiru, National Secretary of the APC, appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, where he suggested that the Federal Government should consider declaring a state of emergency in Osun State due to the violence and unrest.
“Perhaps it will be necessary for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency,” Senator Basiru said. “It has gotten to that stage where hapless people coming from farms are attacked by uncontrollable PDP thugs.” He referred to the escalating violence, attributing it to the PDP’s alleged involvement in attacks on opposition members.
The APC has long been in opposition in Osun State, and the political tension has been growing as both parties engage in a war of words. The APC’s call for federal intervention is a direct challenge to the authority of the state government, led by the PDP.
Basiru’s suggestion came amid mounting frustrations over the ongoing clashes between supporters of the PDP and the APC. Local government chairmen and councillors who were reinstated by the courts were attempting to return to office, asserting that their reinstatement was a matter of legal right. However, their attempts have met with stiff resistance, as the political divide continues to deepen in Osun State.
In response to the APC’s request for a state of emergency, Kolapo Alimi, the Osun State Commissioner for Information, strongly rejected the proposal. Alimi accused the APC of deliberately causing chaos in the state to fuel political unrest.
“I call on our amiable president to reject the call of Honourable Bashiru and his cohorts,” Alimi said. “That is exactly what they are targeting – they deliberately caused mayhem in this state.”
Alimi further pointed out that the violence was being stoked by opposition members, and the PDP government would soon publish the names of their own members who had been killed in the crisis. He claimed that the killings were politically motivated, adding, “There is no court of appeal that restored them, we urge them to toe the line of peace.”
Alimi’s comments suggest that the state government is keen on maintaining control and is accusing the opposition of using violence to destabilise the region. He condemned the actions of the APC, stressing that the law and order should be respected, and all parties should work towards resolving the issue peacefully.
The conflict began when some local government chairmen and councillors, reinstated following a court ruling, attempted to resume their offices. They argued that their reinstatement was in line with a legal ruling that required them to return to their positions. However, the process of resumption met with stiff opposition, particularly from PDP supporters, resulting in clashes and violence.
In Osogbo, the state capital, tension ran high as pro-APC officials clashed with PDP supporters. As the local government officials tried to enforce the court ruling, the resistance turned violent, with reports of gunfire and physical altercations. One of the reinstated council chairmen, Remi Abbas, was reportedly killed in the violence.
The killings have worsened the political crisis in Osun, with both the ruling PDP and the opposition APC accusing each other of inciting violence. The APC claims that PDP thugs are behind the attacks on their members, while the PDP blames the APC for orchestrating the unrest to destabilise the state.
The political conflict in Osun is rooted in the long-standing rivalry between the PDP and the APC. Both parties have been vying for control of the state, and this struggle has manifested in numerous legal battles, protests, and violent clashes over the years. In the most recent chapter of this conflict, the reinstatement of local government officials by the courts has become a flashpoint, triggering violent resistance.
The situation in Osun is also reflective of broader tensions in Nigerian politics, where issues of governance, the rule of law, and political allegiance often become battlegrounds for power. The ongoing crisis in Osun has exposed the deep divisions within the state’s political landscape, with both parties accusing each other of undermining the rule of law.
As the crisis unfolds, the situation in Osun State continues to spark widespread concern. Local communities have been caught in the crossfire, with many citizens fearing further violence. For now, the calls for a state of emergency and the political finger-pointing continue, as both the PDP and the APC remain locked in a battle for dominance.