•Urge Adeleke To Expedite Action On Teachers’ Recruitment

We are members of different Civil Society Organizations. The progress of the state, as well as the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of the people, are our main interests. We have decided to address the media today as concerned civil society groups and as major stakeholders in the business of our dear state, Osun.

Over the last few weeks, we have observed and analyzed the various activities that have taken place in the state, which attempted to paint the state of the Living Spring in a very bad light.

Local Government Leadership Crisis

Osun State has been one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria until some political actors decided, for what appears to be clear selfish and parochial interests, to cause mayhem and create an atmosphere of insecurity and lawlessness in the state. Their intentions came out clearly when some of them started calling for the declaration of a state of emergency in the state. They have now gone back to court to challenge the main judgment that threw them out of office. This was the right decision they ought to have taken ab initio, rather than resorting to self-help and anarchy that led to the needless loss of lives.

At the risk of being labeled political jobbers, we must say things as they are. We therefore thank the people of the state for their peaceful disposition in the face of provocation, and most importantly, we must commend the leadership sagacity demonstrated by Governor Adeleke in the way and manner he was able to navigate the situation and prevent the state from going down. The directive by the Governor to the newly inaugurated local government chairmen and his party men to stay clear of the LG Secretariat saved the day. We therefore want to encourage all the parties involved to put the rule of law at the forefront and desist from seeking self-help. We have faith in our judicial system to do the needful and what is right.

Ifon Ilobu Communal Crisis

It is also unfortunate that the ugly communal crisis in Ifon, Ilobu, and Erin Osun communities raised its ugly head again. It was more worrying, particularly at a period when we were yet to recover from the LG crisis. We wish to unequivocally condemn the loss of lives and destruction of property that characterized the communal land dispute. We want to also commend the timely effort of the state Governor in quickly halting the carnage, though temporarily. The effort to sustain and establish peace in these communities is also commendable, including the mobilization of security architecture, the declaration and review of curfew, and the setting up of IDP camps. These are steps in the right direction.

However, the Osun State Government must take bold steps in restoring lasting peace to these communities. Governor Adeleke should also not hesitate to prosecute those arrested, as well as the removal of any of the monarchs who are found encouraging or promoting the crisis.

Teachers Recruitment

We also bring to the Governor’s attention the long-overdue issue of letters of appointment for awaiting teachers in the state who applied over a year ago. We urge the government to expedite action on this matter immediately, as the matter may snowball into a bigger crisis if not addressed on time. The shortage of teachers has been a clog in the wheel of educational progress in the state.

We have also noticed that some of the newly recruited members of the Imole Youth Corps have been deployed to teach in some of our schools. We are of the strong view that these individuals should be given crash training on teaching so that the genuine intention for deploying them will not backfire.

Finally, we again want to acknowledge the Governor’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Osun citizens, as evident in his administration’s proactive measures to prevent the escalation of conflicts within the state. His dedication to open and participatory governance style has also fostered a sense of trust among the people.

In light of his outstanding performance, we hereby pass a vote of confidence on Governor Ademola Adeleke. We encourage him to continue his good work, particularly in the areas of security, infrastructure development, health, and local economy. May Osun continue to prosper.

Jolapoma Bolanle Machievelli
Coordinator

Olanrewaju Stephen Olans
Spokesperson.

For the Concerned Civil Society Groups in Osun