The Osun Masterminds (TOM) has faulted the Osun State Government over its refusal to comply with a February 10, 2025 Appeal Court judgment on the leadership crisis at the local government level.
Speaking at the June edition of the monthly State-of-the-State address in Osogbo, the Executive Director of TOM, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, described the Osun Government’s action as a deliberate abuse of judicial authority and a threat to democratic governance.
Prof. Oyedokun-Alli accused the state government of undermining the rule of law by disregarding a clear judicial decision and the opinion of the Attorney-General of the Federation on the matter.
He described the ongoing situation as shameful, warning that Osun State risks descending into lawlessness if court judgments are treated with contempt.
He said the Appeal Court ruling had been interpreted across board to favor the reinstatement of APC-elected chairmen, yet the state government continues to act in defiance.
Prof. Oyedokun-Alli noted that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, had publicly interpreted the judgment to mean the APC chairmen were to resume duties.
He stated that the rejection of Fagbemi’s opinion by the Osun State Government, despite earlier seeking his clarification, shows deliberate disobedience to constituted authority.
Prof. Oyedokun-Alli said the continued absence of leadership at the local level is a calculated attempt to frustrate development at the grassroots.
He said the crisis has led to violence and a complete breakdown of administration across several LGAs, which could have been avoided if the government had respected the court ruling.
He questioned the unwillingness of the state government to work with elected officials from opposition parties, calling it politically motivated and anti-democratic.
He said the PDP-led Osun Government should not behave differently from the APC-led Federal Government, which has maintained working relationships with states regardless of party affiliations.
Prof. Oyedokun-Alli demanded immediate compliance with the court ruling and restoration of duly elected officials to stabilize governance at the local level.
He also called on federal agencies to release local government funds to the legally recognized chairmen to prevent further stagnation of grassroots development.
He criticized the state government for abandoning governance for politicking as the 2026 governorship election draws near, saying the people have been left to suffer.
Prof. Oyedokun-Alli also expressed concern over the state’s unfulfilled promise to resuscitate technical colleges, noting the absence of concrete actions despite federal incentives.
He faulted the prolonged delay in the state’s teacher recruitment exercise which began in early 2023, urging the government to announce successful candidates and prioritize filling teaching gaps in public schools.
On national security, Prof. Oyedokun-Alli lamented the increasing insecurity across the country, especially in the North-Central region, and urged President Tinubu to urgently overhaul the nation’s security architecture to restore peace and public confidence.