Ayodeji Ologun: Osun LG Crisis should have been settled Legally by APC and PDP, not through Chaos

Ayodeji Ologun, the spokesperson for Osun Mastermind, has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State should have pursued legal avenues to resolve their issues regarding the sacked Local Government Chairmen instead of resorting to violence. Ologun made this remark in an interview with ARISE NEWS, commenting on the violent events of Monday when gunmen attacked local government secretariats amidst the ongoing struggle between the two parties over the appeal court’s decision. The clashes led to multiple casualties.

Ologun emphasized, “What we would have expected is that when issues of such come up, especially issues that involve legality, such should be resolved legally. You don’t resort to mayhem, you don’t resort to killing, you don’t resort to making people ungovernable, you don’t resort to making life unbearable for the people.” He added that both parties should have sought clarification on the judgement before turning to violence.

When asked about the role of former governor Oyetola in the crisis, Ologun explained that politics cannot be ruled out from the situation. He recalled, “I’m aware, because I was in Oshogbo, I’m aware that the APC, according to the other party, hosted the former governor Oyetola to a welcome party on Friday, and the media reported a lot of things being said at that meeting, and by Sunday, there was a press conference by the governor of the state.”

Ologun continued, “What was reported that Oyetola said at that meeting was calling on security agencies to enforce the judgement of the court, which is the right thing to do. And by Sunday, the governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Ademola Adeleke, came out to address the press and said all kinds of things which I’m sure you must have seen, called on the president, even referred to Oyetola as his nephew, that he should call his nephew to order. And then, one begins to wonder why you begin to bring in family issues if it ever existed into such matters.”

He further criticized the response to the situation, stating, “For me and the organization I represent, it is a simple thing. If a judgement was given and one party is laying claim to what you claim is not being said, the ideal thing is to approach the same court – that provision is in the law. Approach the same appeal court to seek interpretation of the judgement, and that perhaps, would have made all of these killings, mayhem, and what have you avoidable.”

Ologun also condemned the failure of security agencies to prevent the violence, asserting, “It is the duty of the police to protect the people, and when there has been a call, especially policing is not just about waiting for things to happen and then you take action. Sometimes, most of the time even, it is the duty of the police to prevent law and order from being broken down.” He concluded that had the right steps been taken, the violence and loss of life could have been prevented.