Osogbo, Osun state – The former Minister of Police Affairs has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a State of Emergency in Osun State.
Oyewale Adesiyan said there had been a breakdown of law and order in Osun state in the past few months and appealed for constitutional intervention.
He cited the local government crisis where the Chief Executive of the state refused to obey the pronouncements of the Court of Appeal.
This led to the deaths of innocent people including the reinstated chairman of Irewole local government, Hon Remi Abass.
Adesiyan made his thoughts known in a formal statement issued on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Osogbo, the state capital.
As reported by The Nation, the former minister hinged his appeal on Section 305 of the Constitution of Nigeria.
“With the political instabilities in Osun state and having an incompetent governor to handle the situation in the fragile state, I think it is better to invoke the relevant portion of the constitution to bring back peace to Osun state.”
The former minister said that scores of people were killed and many displaced during a recent communal clash.
According to Adesiyan, there was no security report on Governor Ademola Adeleke’s table indicating likely violence.
“It is belated for Mr Governor to impose a 24-hour curfew when the deeds have been done. What kind of a governor do we have in Ademola Adeleke? Not for the timely intervention of Mr President what could have happened in Rivers State would have been unimaginable. A stitch in time saves nine.”
Legit.ng earlier reported that President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18.
The Nigerian president also suspended Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months during his declaration.
Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.
Legit.ng also reported that Nobel Prize winner, Wole Soyinka condemned Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers state.
The 90-year-old described President Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration as over-excessive in a trending interview over the weekend.
Fubara’s aide gives fresh update on suspended governor
Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that the spokesman for suspended Governor Fubara reacted to recent social media reports.
Nelson Chukwudi told the people of Rivers State and Nigerians in general to disregard social media reports about Fubara.
Chukwudi disclosed that the suspended governor of Rivers State was safe and doing well contrary to what many people claimed.
