Adeleke and Oyetola clash over sacked employees and Executive Orders

OSOGBO — Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and his predecessor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, clashed yesterday over the number of workers employed in the latter’s government’s final days.

They also disagreed on the use of Executive Orders and the removal of monarchs.

While the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, accused Oyetola of employing over 12,000 workers before resigning, former governor’s spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan, challenged the Adeleke administration to publish the list of the 12,000 workers, claiming the figure was unfounded.

Apart from the Osun Youth Empowerment (Volunteer) Scheme, it was gathered that the Oyetola administration employed 2,400 teachers in primary and secondary schools across the state, while some contract staff were regularised across ministries and parastatals.

However, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, who appeared on a Rave FM talk show yesterday, stated that the administration has not fired any employees nor dethroned the state’s three monarchs.

Rasheed clarified Executive Order No. 3 on Employment, which states that “all employments in the service of the Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards, and Parastatals made after July 17, 2022 be and are hereby null and void.”

Clarifying Executive Order 4 on Appointments, he stated that “all appointments made in the service of the Osun State Government in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards, and Parastatals after July 17, 2022, be and are hereby reversed.”

Similarly, on Executive Order No. 5 on Chieftaincy Affairs and Appointment of Traditional Rulers, he stated that “all appointments of traditional rulers made by the Osun State Government after July 17, 2022, are hereby ordered to be reviewed to ensure strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom, and tradition relating to such chieftaincies.”

“In the case of Akirun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree, and Owa of Igbajo, in order to avoid further breakdown of law and order, the appointments of Akirun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree, and Owa of Igbajo are hereby put on hold, pending review.”

“As a result, the palaces of Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree, and Owa of Igbajo should remain vacant, and security agencies are hereby directed to take control.”

On Executive Order No. 6 Establishing Review Committees, he stated, “In accordance with Executive Orders Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5, I hereby order the establishment of Review Committees.”

The governor’s spokesman stated on the radio program that Executive Orders 3, 4, and 5 were subject to the instrumentality of Order 6.

“There was never any sacking of any worker or traditional ruler,” he said. We only established a review panel; it is impossible to sack and replace a review panel.

“Among other things, the review panel will look at the number of people who were employed, the employment processes, and qualification.”

The executive orders are like a package; the initial orders read out the administration’s intentions to review, nullify, set aside, and so on, but the instrument for carrying out Orders 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 was now Order 6, which is the panel. This is why we have requested a staff audit. It will investigate activities from July 17th until we take over.

“Those who were employed from July 17 to the present are still working; they have not been fired.” Their employment will be reviewed by the staff audit.”
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In response to Adeleke’s comments yesterday, former Governor Oyetola challenged his successor to publish the list of the alleged 12,000 workers.

“The claim by the Osun Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, that the immediate past governor employed 12, 000 workers is not only false but unfounded,” Oyetola said through his spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan.

“As a result, I challenge the state government to publish the list of the ostensibly 12, 000 workers.” What is the total state workforce?

“Once a lie is told, it takes one thousand lies to cover it up.” The people of Osun will know who the true liars are in the not-too-distant future.”

Recognize your

APC blunders

Similarly, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State yesterday described Governor Adeleke’s creation of various review Panels as an afterthought designed to arrive at pre-determined outcomes.

“We told you from day one that these people have nothing to offer,” said the party’s Director of Operations, Mr. Sunday Akere. Their first action shows that they are even perplexed.

“They said they were coming to sack us a long time ago.” They arrived and made the announcement. Why convene a panel after reaching a decision? What they are doing is analogous to performing ablution after praying. Who would do that?

“You have asked traditional rulers to step down, but you want a review panel to conduct an investigation.” Are they also taking on the role of the judiciary, given that some of the cases are already in court? Furthermore, we have proof that our government installed more than 20 monarchs before we left. Why limit yourself to just three? And one of them was our former party chairman. Isn’t there a political undercurrent in all of this?

“Nigerians must be aware that the panels will work from the responses.” And, since the answers are known, why waste taxpayers’ money? The governor must be humble enough to admit his mistakes. He appears to lack a fundamental understanding of how government works.”

Sworn-in review committee

Kola Adewusi, the Deputy Governor, swore in four review committees at Imole House earlier yesterday, in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 6.

During the panel’s inauguration, Adewusi stated that the panel’s formation was necessary to review the previous administration’s actions in order to provide insight to the new administration and ensure a smooth transition.

Adewusi claimed that the immediate past administration mismanaged some state assets and property, which was one of the reasons the panel was formed.

The panels include Dr Muyiwa Oladimeji’s Staff Audit/Appointment/Promotions Review Committee, Dr B.T. Salam’s State Assets, Inventory, and Recovery Committee, Mr Niyi Owolade’s Contracts/MOU/Agreements Review Committee, and Reverend Bunmi Jenyo’s Chieftaincy Affairs Review Committee.

Owa-in-Council begs Adeleke not to set fire to Igbajo.
Meanwhile, Igbajo’s kingmakers and traditional chiefs urged Governor Adeleke not to create a crisis in the community by dethroning the Owa of Igbajo, Oba Gboyega Famodun.

Under the auspices of Owa-in-Council, the kingmakers urged the governor not to be drawn into messy politics, claiming that the monarch’s selection and installation followed due process.

Chief Michael Ajibodu, Obala Iloro of Igbajo; Chief Akalo Oladejo, Odofin Iloro of Igbajo; Chief Joseph Fasiku, Lemikan of Igbajo; Chief Clement Fasoro, Odofin Igbajo of Igbajo; and Chief Bode Adeniyi, Saloro of Igbajo signed the statement.

“As kingmakers, we affirmed that the process that produced the king followed all laid out guidelines in the Owa of Igbajo Chieftaincy Declaration,” the statement said. The town’s declaration acknowledges two lineages: Omo Owa Oke (with nine ruling houses) and Omo Owa Isale (with seven ruling houses). The Chieftaincy Declaration states that if the throne becomes vacant, it will be either Owa Oke or Owa Isale’s turn to fill the vacancy, with no order of rotation among the ruling houses.”

Iree ruling houses are split.

The ruling houses in Iree, on the other hand, were divided over the alleged dethronement of the monarch.

“For us in the ancient town of Iree, the executive order No. 5, as pronounced by Mr Governor, is a very significant intervention that is acceptable and appreciated by the overwhelming indigenes of Iree, both at home and in the Diaspora,” said Prince Ali Afolabi.

“We are grateful to Senator Ademola Adeleke for his decision to investigate the purported installation of a new Aree because we have not hidden our position that the emergence of Ademola Ponle as Aree of Iree was unlawful, fraudulent, and an attempt to trash the customs and traditions of the good people of Iree.”

However, on behalf of the five ruling houses, the Head of Oyekun Ruling House, Iree, Pa Michael Fajinmi, stated that the Iree community is peaceful and orderly.

He also urged Governor Adeleke to allow the town to breathe new life into it with the arrival of the new monarch.

“We understand your fear as the Chief Security Officer of the state about likely crisis or threat of such,” Fajinmi said, “but we are confidently saying that since God enthroned Oba Ademola Oluponnle on November 7, 2022, Iree has been cool and calm even without the aid of security agencies, lending credence to the fact that Oba Oluponle is the people’s choice.”

NURTW clashes lead to violence in Iwo.

The Osun Police Command announced yesterday that three people were arrested in Iwo after members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, clashed in the town in an attempt to take over leadership of motor parks from those perceived to be loyal to the APC administration.

Muri Oko-Ilu was reportedly leading hoodlums to Okada parks, which are motor parks and commercial motorcycles, yesterday morning, with the intention of taking over the parks.

Ori-Eru, Palace Junction, and Lagos Parks are among the parks that have been attacked.

The hoodlums, who were said to be armed with guns and cutlasses, frightened shop owners and attacked their rivals with cutlasses and dangerous weapons.

Six people were reportedly injured during the scuffle, but security personnel quickly restored order in the town.

I’ll collaborate with Osun lawmakers.

ADELEKE —

Meanwhile, while receiving the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, in his county home at Ede yesterday, Governor Adeleke stated that he was ready to work closely with the state legislature to deliver on his administration’s five-point agenda.

The governor, who described himself as a man with a passion for the legislature, reiterated his willingness to work with lawmakers and praised the state’s excellent partnership between the two branches of government.

In his remarks, the speaker assured the governor that the legislature was ready to support his administration in fulfilling its promises to the people of the state.

The Assembly did not convene to review Adeleke’s activities, according to an Osun PDP lawmaker.

Meanwhile, Adewumi Adeyemi, the lawmaker representing Obokun State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, denied yesterday that the lawmakers met to discuss Governor Adeleke’s activities.

The House of Assembly, through its Chairman on Media and Publicity, Kunle Akande, questioned the Governor’s actions regarding the state name, anthem, and use of the state crest.

However, Adeyemi, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stated in a statement that the lawmakers did not convene to review the governor’s activities.

“My attention has been drawn to a statement, which reportedly emanated from the Osun State House of Assembly and was signed by Mr. Moshood Kunle Akande,” the statement reads.

“As a lawmaker who regularly attends plenary, I hereby state unequivocally that the Assembly has not met since the governor’s inauguration.” It is also worth noting that the Assembly did not pass the resolution anywhere. The general public, particularly the people of Osun, are hereby advised to take note of this.”

Track News has learned that Governor Adeleke and the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Timothy Owoeye, met behind closed doors yesterday to discuss the governor’s inaugural speech and the Executive Orders.