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Tag: Osun State

  • Amotekun foils robbery attack in Osun

    Amotekun foils robbery attack in Osun

    Amotekun Corps, the southwest security outfit, foiled robbery attack on vehicles on the Akure-Ilesa Expressway on Friday and recovered a vehicle loaded with engine oil.

    Commander of the corps in Osun, retired Brig-Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi, told newsmen in Osogbo on Saturday that the robbers attacked vehicles at Ileki/Osu axis of the Ilesha-Akure Road for close to an hour.

    He said a motorist who escaped the robbers’ ambush alerted an Amotekun patrol team at about 11.46 p.m. and the latter chased the robbers away.

    “The robbers ambushed vehicles and were shooting into the air, forcing drivers to park, abandon their vehicles and run into bushes for safety.

    “When the robbers, however, saw that Amotekun patrol team was coming for them, they fled the scene after operating on the road for almost an hour,’’ he said

    Adewinmbi added that after the robbers fled, a truck loaded with diesel and petrol but abandoned by its driver, was recovered and taken to the Amotekun office in Osogbo.

    He said through the waybills found in the recovered truck, contact was made with the owner of the goods and the driver and his assistant who ran into the bush were reached.

    He said the driver explained that they were travelling from Lagos and heading to Abuja through Lokoja when they were ambushed.

    Adewinmbi said the vehicle, with the goods intact, were released to the driver on Saturday in Osogbo in the presence of police operatives from Ayeso Police Station, Ilesha, which covers the jurisdiction of the incident.

    He said police commended the Amotekun team for its efforts and sought for more collaboration to tackle rising highway robberies, especially along the Owena-Ile-Ife Expressway in Osun.

    Adewinmbi cautioned motorists, especially those conveying expensive goods or items against night journeys.

    He stressed that if they must move in the night, they should be wary about the routes they plied.

  • Osun Govt explains delay of civil servants’ March salaries

    Osun Govt explains delay of civil servants’ March salaries

    The Osun Government says the ongoing computation of arrears of civil servants promoted  without pay in the last four years is responsible for delay in the payment of march salary for civil servants in the state.

    This is contained in a statement by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson to Gov. Ademola Adeleke, on Friday in Osogbo.

    According to a statement, the compilation of what is due to each promoted officer is being  followed with due diligence to ensure that there is no error in the eventual payment.

    “Gov. Ademola Adeleke  has directed that  compilation, analysis and computation of the promotion arrears should be completed and paid to the affected civil servants.

    “He insisted that the arrears  must be paid alongside the March salary.

    “Osun state Government therefore wishes to reassure Osun workers that the payment  of March salary is accompanied with payment of promotion arrears, hence the few days delay.

    “The March salary alongside the promotion arrears of promoted civil servants will be ready next week,” the statement  said.

  • 2023 Elections: Osun declares Friday 23rd public holiday

    2023 Elections: Osun declares Friday 23rd public holiday

    Ahead of the 2023 elections, the Osun State Government has declared Friday, February 24, 2023 as a public holiday.

    This was contained in a circular issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye on Friday in Osogbo the Osun state capital.

    According to the state government, the public holiday was approved so that residents and indigenes would be able travel for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday.

    The statement reads in part“This is time for all citizens to exercise their voting rights. His Excellency again appeals to all residents to be law abiding as they peacefully exercise their voting rights on Saturday and subsequent elections,” the SSG noted in the circular.

    Public servants are expected to in compliance with the directive utilise the opportunity to travel for the electoral process.

  • Osun APC accuses PDP of attacking supporters

    Osun APC accuses PDP of attacking supporters

    The Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of attacking its supporters in the state.

    Mr Tajudeen Lawal, the state Acting APC Chairman said this at a news briefing in Osogbo.

    Lawal said that the attacks started shortly after the tribunal judgement which gave APC victory in the state governorship election.

    “Since the tribunal judgement that sacked Gov. Adeleke from the office, members and leaders of the party have not known peace for a day,” he said.

    Lawal called on the Inspector-General of Police to ensure the transfer of the State Commissioner of Police out of the state.

    “To state that this is a more trying period in the political history of our state cannot be farfetched, as what our members are experiencing from the PDP goons can better be imagined rather than experienced.

    “As I speak, almost all the members of our party, the APC, in the Atakumosa-East Local Government Council Area of the state, have been pursued out of the towns and villages in the local government by daredevil and notorious PDP thugs.

    “The main source of our concern about the pitiable security situation of our state since the inauguration of Gov. Adeleke is that the police which is the statutory security agency in the state have not been doing enough to dispassionately maintain peace and order.

    “It was observed that the police are always looking away when our members are being attacked by the PDP thugs,” he said.

    Lawal added:“We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to intervene in our plight by urgently effecting the transfer of the Osun Commissioner of Police, as his best is found out not to be in the best interest of any genuine democratic setting.”

    Responding, the state acting PDP Chairman, Mr Adekunle Akindele, who denied the allegations described it as fallacy and untrue.

    “The police are law enforcers, meant to keep peace in the state. For us in PDP, we don’t see police as aiding or favouring us, they are just doing their job.

    “Few days ago, some of our members were equally invited for interrogation and their statement were taken.

    “Police are doing their job and I don’t see why APC should be making such allegations.

    “Some of our members were also been attacjed.We are law-abiding party. We are now in power, even when we are in the minority, we are not violent,” he said.

  • Tribunal judgment: APC jubilates as PDP supporters protest in Osun

    Tribunal judgment: APC jubilates as PDP supporters protest in Osun

    Some supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have stormed the streets of Osogbo to express their dissatisfaction over the Election Petitions Tribunal Judgment that disqualified Gov. Ademola Adeleke on Friday.

    The protesters were in hundreds carrying placards with different inscriptions and chanting anti-opposition songs with long queues of campaign vehicles across streets.

    The inscription on placards are “We say no to APC in Osun, Tribunal Panel is not fair, Don’t Dash our people’s mandates, Olorunda Local Government says no to tribunal judgment, among other inscriptions.

    Also, most roads leading to the popular Olaiya junction and Old garage were blocked by the protesters, showing their grievances leading to heavy gridlock.

    Speaking with some of the protesters at the Olaiya junction, they said their mandate was taken away from them in a repetition of what transpired in 2018 election.

    Mr Taiwo Akinyele, said he was not happy with the Tribunal’s judgment in spite of the fact that the evidence before the court was clear that Gov. Adeleke won the election.

    Akinyele decried the attitude of the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Tertsea Kume, who gave a different judgment in spite of all evidence against the petitioners.

    He expressed optimism that his party (PDP) would retrieved its mandate at the Court of Appeal in Akure in due course.

    “It is just a matter of time. We have been deceived and denied of our mandate. Osun people are tired of APC for all their harsh policies. I know God will intervene,’’ he said.

    Recall that the Police command in Osun has warned against any unscrupulous element intending to breakdown law and order, adding that the command would ensure the peace of the state.

    Some police personnel and other sister agencies were patrolling major roads to ensure no political party takes law into their hands. .

    Also recall that Mr Gboyega Oyetola of APC and immediate past governor of the state, had challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Mr Ademola Adeleke of PDP as winner of the election.

    Oyetola and the APC had on Aug. 5, 2022, filed a petition before the Tribunal in Osogbo challenging the election results from 749 polling units across 10 local government areas, alleging electoral malpractices, especially over-voting.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Mr Adeleke as the winner of the governorship election, having polled 403, 271 votes against 375,027 polled by Mr Oyetola.

    In the judgment delivered by the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Kume, on Friday, he upheld that the July 16, 2022 governorship election did not comply with the Electoral Act, noting that there was indeed over voting in six local government areas in Osun.

    The tribunal chairman declared Mr Oyetola as winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship election.

    Tribunal judgment: Oyetola’s victory, triumph of justice – Osun APC

    Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun Chapter has described the tribunal judgment as triumph of justice and truth over falsehood.

    The Acting State Chairman of Osun APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal in a statement said the governorship tribunal that gave victory to Oyetola was an indisputable indication that the APC is the dominant political party in the state.

    Lawal stated that he never, for once, doubted the victory of Oyetola at the tribunal as the verdict was a confirmation that the APC governorship candidate did not lose the July 16, 2022 election but the vote-count.

    The acting chairman observed that the difference in the garnered votes, by with which Oyetola was declared the winner of the election by the tribunal, was enough to prove that the APC candidate won the election conveniently and convincingly.

    He said the majority judgement that gave Oyetola victory further underscored the fact that the court of law is the last hope of the common man as justice was not only served, it was seen to have been glaringly done.

    He appreciated the professional expertise of all the lawyers who featured at the tribunal and also lauded the support and loyalty of all the APC members throughout the duration of the suit at the tribunal.

    Lawal enjoined all the APC members and their supporters to go about their businesses in peace, irrespective of provocation from any quarters.

    He salute the courage of the party members for their continued believe in the ideals of the party which have been igniting their unalloyed support till date.

    Lawal advised the leadership of the PDP and their candidate to approach the court for an appeal if they felt dissatisfied with the tribunal judgment and not resort to self-help which is always counterproductive to the rules of law.

    He also expressed gratitude to the entire people of the state for their support and prayers throughout the duration of the matter at the tribunal, promising that the qualitative governance by Oyetola, which  they were used to, would soon become their portion in the state again.

  • [Video] Protest rocks Osun state, over tribunal judgement nullifying Adeleke’s election

    [Video] Protest rocks Osun state, over tribunal judgement nullifying Adeleke’s election

    Protests have reportedly rocked Osun state following the tribunal judgement, ousting governor Ademola Adeleke as the duly elected governor of Osun state.

    Thenewsguru.com reports that during a sitting today, the tribunal affirmed that there was overvoting in the election and cancelled about 10 local governments where it was discovered.

    After deducting the votes, Oyetola was declared the winner of the election, nullifying the victory of Ademola Adeleke in the July 2022 election.

    Reacting to the judgement, residents have bombarded the streets and blocked a major bridge expressing displeasure.

    Watch video below:

     

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  • APC, PDP, INEC differ on Osun Governorship Tribunal judgment

    APC, PDP, INEC differ on Osun Governorship Tribunal judgment

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State on Friday expressed divergent views on the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal judgment delivered on Friday.

    The tribunal had in its judgment declared former Gov. Gboyega Oyetola as the authentic winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the state.

    While the tribunal Chairman, Justice Tertsea Kume delivered the majority judgment which gave victory to Oyetola, another member of the three-man panel delivered a minority judgment.

    Addressing newsmen shortly after the judgment, Counsel to APC, Dr Abiodun Layonu, thanked the tribunal for restoring the victory of Oyetola as the winner of the governorship election.

    Layonu thanked Mr Akin Olujimi (SAN) and Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for leading Oyetola to victory at the tribunal.

    He said that the judges at the tribunal considered the option of declaring Oyetola as winner in a majority judgment.

    Also, Counsel to PDP, Mr Nathaniel Oke, told newsmen that the respondents were dissatisfied with the tribunal’s verdict.

    Oke said necessary legal step to challenge the judgment would be embarked upon by the respondents in order to get Adeleke’s mandate back.

    He said that the majority judgment might not be the position of the court, adding, however, that the respondents stood with the minority judgment which, he said, showed the true picture of what transpired at the election.

    “You will recall that it was only two people who gave judgment in respect of the July 16, 2022 election,” he said.

    Oke expressed optimism that Adeleke’s mandate would be retrieved at the appellate court.

    In his own reaction, Counsel to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Paul Ananaba, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment.

    “The tribunal chairman delivered what is called majority judgment; the second member of the panel gave a dissenting judgment while the third thanked everybody at the tribunal.

    “These are the issues we will have to look into and get back to the commission. Anybody who listened to today’s judgment will know that only two people delivered the judgment and not three.

    Ananaba further stated that the Biomodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) was the primary source of what transpired on the day of the election.

    He said there was no way a report issued after the election would be the primary source of what transpired on the election upon which the results would be declared.

    Ananaba urged the people of the state to remain calm, assuring them that all the legal options would be explored to get Adeleke’s mandate back.

  • Election: Ad hoc staff “ll be taken through nitty gritty of BVAS – INEC

    Election: Ad hoc staff “ll be taken through nitty gritty of BVAS – INEC

    As the INEC is making finishing touches to the conduct of general elections, the commission says all ad hoc staff will be taken through the nitty gritty of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and all the electioneering processes.

    Newsmen reports that BVAS is an electronic device designed by INEC to read Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and authenticate voters through the voters’ fingerprints to prove their eligibility to vote at a particular polling unit.

    In an interview, in Ibadan, on Thursday, Dr Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Osun State, maintained that ad hoc job for the forthcoming general elections was so special.

    “Not just for corps members, but for those who are going to serve as supervising polling officers and collation officers.

    “Everyone must be outstanding in the job, as the commission is not going to tolerate anybody sabotaging the election processes for us.

    “We are going to train and retrain all ad hoc staff, organised refresher courses for them, all these will enhance the election processes to achieve success,” he said.

    Agboke added there was Code of Conduct for the election which all the ad hoc staff would sign, saying anyone that did contrary to it shall face the wrath of law.

    On security, the Osun REC said the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in each state met regularly for the purpose of curtailing criminal excesses before, during and after elections.

    According to him, members of ICCES are the Police, NSCDC, ICPC and EFCC.

    “ICCES are going to be on the lookout, not just the buyers and sellers of votes but those who would come to the poliing units with third party PVC.

    “The commission will continue to collaborate with security agencies because they have to secure us and protect election materials while INEC mandate is to conduct, supervise and ensure that there is a credible process,” he said.

    Agboke added that the commission also incorporated National Orientation Agency (NOA) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) into its doing.

    The REC further said that the commission would soon conduct mock accreditation across the country before the general elections.

    According to him, the exercise will be done at selected polling units to ascertain the performance of the BVAS.

    “We have used BVAS in some of our by-elections and off season governorship elections.

    “But in the wisdom of the commission, it decided that the new technology of BVAS has to be test-run, look at the way it will perform since the commission has not used it during general elections.

    ” This will make us know whether its efficiency is still guaranteed or otherwise.

    “So the commission will announce the date for the exercise soon, it has picked the senatorial districts, local governments, wards and polling units where the mock accreditation will be held,” he explained.

    He further reiterated that INEC was not ready to postpone or cancel the forthcoming general elections.

    He said the elections would hold, “notwithstanding any challenge or challenges, we are going to have the general elections by God’s grace”.

    On other preparations by the commission, Agboke said INEC in various states “are engaging political parties on how to make campaign violence-free.

    “Collection of PVCs is still ongoing; we have returned to local government areas and we urge owners of uncollected PVCs to come out for collection.

    “PVC is crucial and vital in this forthcoming general elections, as no one without it would be allowed to vote, in addition, no accreditation through the BVAS no voting”.

  • Osun Governorship Election Tribunal set to deliver judgment

    Osun Governorship Election Tribunal set to deliver judgment

    The Osun Election Petition Tribunal has fixed Jan. 27 to deliver judgment in the petition challenging Gov. Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the July 16, 2022, governorship election.

    The former governor of Osun, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had challenged the victory of Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election.

    This is contained in a notice of hearing dated Jan. 24, which was signed by the Secretary of the Tribunal, Mr David Mike, obtained by newsmen in Osogbo on Tuesday.

    The hearing notice said that the judgment would be delivered by 9am on Friday.

    Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Tertsea Kume, had on Jan. 14 reserved judgment for a later day to be communicated to parties in the matter.

    This was after the petitioner and respondents had adopted their final written addresses in Osogbo, the state capital.

    Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had on Aug. 5 filed a petition before the Tribunal in Osogbo challenging the election results from 749 polling units across 10 local government areas, alleging electoral malpractices, especially over-voting.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Adeleke as the winner of the governorship election, having polled 403, 271 votes against 375, 027 polled by Oyetola.

  • Why cultists, hemp sellers clashed in Osun state

    Why cultists, hemp sellers clashed in Osun state

    Some youths suspected to be cultists on Friday clashed with another group of people who involve in the illicit activity of selling hemp in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    According to an eye witness account, who doesn’t want his name in print  said trouble started at Ode Oga Junction in Oke Baale Area, Osogbo, when some suspected cultists abducted a man alleged to be a hemp seller identified only as Kokoro.

    It was gathered that Kokoro was said to have renounced cultism; a decision that allegedly displeased members of his former group.

    Members of the group were said to have launched a search for Kokoro since he made the decision but they could not get him until Friday when they saw him on a motorcycle.

    The eyewitness said, “Members of his former group saw him (Kokoro) on a motorcycle at Ode Oga and abducted him. When news of his abduction reached his own group at Ita Akogun, Osogbo, they mobilised and stormed where he was being held.

    “The two groups engaged in a fight. There were exchanges of gunshots. Police also intervened. But two people lost their lives. The fight later spread to Isale Aro, Gbaemu area of Osogbo where two passersby were hit by bullets. They were injured and taken to a hospital.’’

    Contacted to comment on the matter, the state police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed that two persons lost their lives during the incident, adding that the hoodlums involved also exchange gunshots with the police.

    “They even attacked operatives. Normalcy has returned to the affected areas,” Opalola said.

    There have been series of unrest in Osogbo in the past few weeks for one reason or the other.