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Osun LG Crisis Deepens as Workers Reject 72-Hour Ultimatum Amid Political Showdown

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Osun LG Crisis Deepens as Workers Reject 72-Hour Ultimatum Amid Political Showdown

Osun LG Crisis Deepens as Workers Reject 72-Hour Ultimatum Amid Political Showdown

The escalating local government crisis in Osun State has taken a dramatic turn as local government workers have outrightly rejected the 72-hour ultimatum issued to them to resume work amid the ongoing power struggle between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a bold move, APC-backed local government chairmen, who were elected in 2022, returned to the council secretariats on Monday with heavy security escorts. Their PDP counterparts, recently elected in the controversial Saturday polls, heeded Governor Ademola Adeleke’s directive and stayed away, intensifying the uncertainty gripping the state.

The crisis stems from conflicting legal rulings and political maneuvering. The APC claims legitimacy based on a Court of Appeal ruling that reportedly overturned a previous high court judgment which removed the 2022 LG chairmen. In contrast, the PDP-led state government proceeded with fresh LG elections last weekend, with the APC refusing to participate, leading to a PDP landslide victory.

Tensions have reached boiling point, with at least six reported deaths as a result of the political tussle. Amidst the chaos, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) ordered workers to stay away from the LG secretariats, fearing for their safety in the violent political face-off.

Despite the precarious situation, the returning APC chairmen have given the workers a 72-hour ultimatum to return, claiming the security situation has been stabilized. However, the NLC has firmly rejected the directive, maintaining that workers would not return under the current volatile conditions.

A correspondent who visited key LG secretariats in Ifelodun (Ikirun), Olorunda (Igbona), and Osogbo (Oke Baale) reported that APC-backed officials had taken over the premises. However, the Osogbo LG secretariat was later shut, and armed security forces—including police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) operatives—were seen mounting roadblocks at key locations, including Osogbo/Kwara Boundary Road, Osogbo/Ilesa Road, and Gbongan/Osogbo Road. Despite the heavy security presence, business activities in the state capital continued undisturbed.

APC chieftain Jamiu Olawumi, a former Special Adviser on Education under ex-Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, confirmed that APC LG chairmen and councilors had resumed across all 30 LGAs. He warned that workers must return to duty by Wednesday or face consequences.

“All chairmen and councillors have resumed in all local governments and area councils in Osun State, including Irewole LG. The security is very tight; we have responsible police officers, DSS, and Civil Defence ensuring order. Most of the chairmen have issued press releases this morning directing their workers to resume by Wednesday. Failure to do so will result in consequences,” Olawumi declared.

However, the Osun NLC Chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, swiftly rejected the ultimatum, asserting that workers would not be intimidated or forced into an unsafe work environment.

“We directed our members to withdraw their services last week due to the political turmoil and insecurity at local government offices across the state. We cannot allow our members to work in an atmosphere of fear. If not for our swift action, the chaos at the LG secretariats could have been far worse,” Arapasopo stated.

He further condemned the APC chairmen’s threats, insisting that the workers’ safety was paramount. “The sacked chairmen lack the power to intimidate, threaten, or instruct our members to resume work. We will not be bullied into submission. We insist on the rule of law and call on all political players to respect legal processes to prevent anarchy.”

Arapasopo also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently in the crisis before it spirals further out of control. “We appeal to President Tinubu to step in as a father figure and bring an end to this chaos. Security agencies must also ensure the safety of lives and property across all local governments.”

As the political showdown between the APC and PDP escalates, the fate of local government administration in Osun State hangs in the balance, with workers caught in the crossfire of a high-stakes power struggle.

 

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Ajadi Congratulates Bimbo Adekanmbi, Vows Supports to 2027 Governorship Project

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Ajadi Congratulates Bimbo Adekanmbi, Vows Supports to 2027 Governorship Project

 

 

Prominent political figures within the Team Seyi Makinde political structure in Oyo State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo and Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide, popularly known as Odidiomo, have congratulated Chief Bimbo Adekanmbi following his emergence as the consensus governorship candidate of the political movement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

The duo, who also emerged as consensus senatorial candidates for Oyo Central and Oyo South Senatorial Districts, respectively, pledged total support for Adekanmbi’s governorship ambition, while assuring residents of Oyo State of inclusive governance and continuity of developmental policies associated with Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.

 

“I throw my full support behind Chief Bimbo Adekanmbi as the consensus governorship candidate chosen by our political leaders through a unified process,” Ajadi said.

 

He added, “His emergence reflects unity, consultation, and the collective resolve of our political family, and we are fully committed to delivering victory in 2027.”

 

According to him, the endorsement of Adekanmbi was based on competence, loyalty, administrative experience, and the need to sustain ongoing developmental strides in the state.

 

Also reacting to the development, Hon. Stanley Odidiomo expressed appreciation to stakeholders for the confidence reposed in the candidates selected through consensus.

 

He assured party loyalists and supporters that the candidates would work collectively to deepen democratic dividends across the state.

 

“This is not about individual ambition alone; it is about protecting the future of Oyo State and consolidating on the achievements already recorded. We are united, and we are prepared to serve the people with sincerity and fairness,” Odidiomo said.

 

Sources close to the meeting disclosed that discussions centered on political unity, grassroots mobilization, and sustaining the developmental momentum associated with Governor Makinde’s administration.

 

The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Abdulraheem Adebayo Lawal, was also said to have witnessed the strategic meeting alongside other influential stakeholders within the political structure.

 

Lawal reportedly congratulated Adekanmbi and the senatorial candidates while expressing optimism that the political family would remain united ahead of the next general elections.

 

Political observers in the state believe the consensus arrangement may reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 governorship contest, especially with increasing alignments and consultations among major political actors across the state.

 

Adekanmbi’s emergence is already generating conversations within political circles, with supporters describing it as an attempt to maintain continuity, stability, and the governance philosophy championed by Governor Makinde over the years.

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CityBoy Movement Denounces ‘False Blasphemy Claim’ Against Seyi Tinubu

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Why Seyi Tinubu is not your usual silver spoon

CityBoy Movement Denounces ‘False Blasphemy Claim’ Against Seyi Tinubu

 

 

The CityBoy Movement has dismissed as false and malicious a viral social media post alleging that its patron, Barr. Seyi Tinubu, made blasphemous remarks concerning God and the 2027 presidential election.

 

In a statement issued on Monday by the group’s Deputy Director-General for Communication and Public Affairs, O’tega Ogra, the movement described the publication as “deliberately inflammatory” and aimed at creating religious tension in the country.

 

The group said the statement, allegedly authored by one “Albaabu Abudulahi,” falsely attributed comments to Tinubu which he never made “at any time, in any place, through any channel, or under any circumstance whatsoever.”

 

According to the statement, the allegation was “entirely false, malicious in intent, reckless in circulation and dangerous in consequence.”

 

The movement maintained that Seyi Tinubu is a man of faith who believes that all authority comes from God alone and would never insult or diminish the supremacy of God or Allah.

“He has never insulted, mocked, questioned or diminished the supremacy of Almighty God or Allah, and will never do so,” the statement read.

The group further accused unnamed individuals of attempting to damage Tinubu’s image and provoke unnecessary religious controversy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While reaffirming Tinubu’s support for the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, the CityBoy Movement stressed that all political ambitions and public service efforts remain subject to “the will and guidance of Almighty God.”

The organisation urged Nigerians to disregard the circulating claims, describing them as a calculated attempt to mislead the public and sow division along religious lines.

It also called on media organisations, digital publishers and social media users to verify information before sharing materials capable of threatening national unity and peaceful coexistence.

The statement reiterated the movement’s commitment to democratic engagement, responsible public conduct and respect for all faiths.

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Governor Dauda Lawal Approves N3.2 Billion to renovate School of Nursing in Zurmi

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Governor Dauda Lawal Approves N3.2 Billion to removate School of Nursing in Zurmi

Governor Dauda Lawal Approves N3.2 Billion to renovate School of Nursing in Zurmi

His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Lawal, has officially approved the sum of N3.2 billion for the complete renovation, accreditation, and commencement of academic activities at the Zamfara State School of Nursing and Health Sciences, located in Zurmi Local Government Area. This was confirmed in an official statement released marking a major intervention in the state’s ailing healthcare education sector, which has suffered years of neglect and infrastructural decay.

According to government sources, the funds will be channeled into three critical areas: the overhauling of lecture halls, administrative blocks, student hostels, and practical demonstration labs to meet modern standards; the settlement of regulatory fees and implementation of curriculum upgrades required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN); and enabling the school to admit its first batch of students in over five years, with a focus on midwifery, community health and general nursing. Speaking on the development, the state Commissioner for Health described the approval as a new chapter in healthcare manpower development, noting that the Zurmi school has remained non-functional for nearly a decade due to poor infrastructure and loss of accreditation.

Governor Dauda Lawal Approves N3.2 Billion to removate School of Nursing in Zurmi

Governor Dauda Lawal is not just renovating a school but rebuilding the backbone of primary healthcare delivery in Zamfara, adding that without trained nurses and community health workers, the state’s hospitals cannot function and that this N3.2 billion investment will change the narrative.

Residents of Zurmi and prospective students have greeted the news with excitement, with many having lost hope of ever seeing the institution reopen. Governor Dauda Lawal, who has made health sector revitalization a cornerstone of his administration, was quoted as saying that his government remains committed to accessible, quality education and healthcare across all 14 local government areas of the state, adding that no Zurmi child should travel hundreds of kilometers just to become a nurse. The state government has issued a directive to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to ensure the project is completed within nine months, with accreditation visits scheduled to begin before the end of the current fiscal year.

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