A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Sowunmi, has urged the APC-controlled Federal Government to abandon any plans to declare a state of emergency in Osun State. This comes after at least six people lost their lives in clashes between APC and PDP members over control of local government councils in Osun State.
Sowunmi, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today, emphasized that declaring a state of emergency would be unjustified, citing the example of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of the Chibok crisis in Borno State. He questioned the rationale behind such a declaration, suggesting it would be an overreach of power.
APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru had earlier called for a state of emergency in Osun due to the local government crisis. However, Sowunmi countered that the government should instead focus on addressing the root causes of the violence and ensuring the safety of citizens.
The crisis in Osun State began when Governor Ademola Adeleke raised concerns that APC members, backed by security agencies, were attempting to hijack local government secretariats. Adeleke had requested President Bola Tinubu to intervene and caution Minister Gboyega Oyetola, who is also Adeleke’s predecessor.
Sowunmi argued that Tinubu should have acted swiftly to provide adequate security in Osun when Adeleke sounded the alarm. He emphasized that the PDP would not tolerate any attempts to bully or silence opposition parties, stressing that Nigeria cannot become a one-party state.
The situation in Osun State has resulted in the imposition of a 24-hour curfew in two local government areas. As the electioneering process heats up in the South-West, the clash between APC and PDP members has raised concerns about the potential for further violence.
