Adeleke suspends OSIEC chairman, six others, dethrones three monarchs

• Assembly dares governor, maintains the use of ‘State of Osun’
• Differs on state slogan, others

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, yesterday, ordered that all appointments of traditional rulers made by the immediate past administration of Gboyega Oyetola be reviewed to ensure strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations, native law, custom and tradition relating to such chieftaincies.

He ordered that the affected monarchs, including Owa of Igbajo, Oba Gboyega Famodun; Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Yinusa Akadiri and Aree of Iree, Oba Ponde Ademola, should vacate their palaces while security agencies should take over.

Adeleke, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, about 24 hours after his inauguration, said that the thrones of the affected monarchs remained unoccupied pending the outcome of a committee of inquiry to review their appointments and subsequent installations.

In another statement signed by Secretary to Osun State Government (SSG), Tesleem Igbalaye, the governor directed the immediate suspension of the Chairman of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Segun Oladitan and six members of the Commission, including Yusuf Oyeniran, Suibat Adubi, Yinka Ajiboye, Abosede Omibeku, Dosu Gidigbi and Wahab Adewoyin.

“This suspension is the sequel to several petitions bordering on financial impropriety, dereliction of duty, absenteeism and abuse of office against the said chairman and members of the Commission.

“Pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations against the suspended chairman and members of the Commission, the Secretary to the Commission shall hold forth in running the affairs of the commission,” the statement affirmed.

MEANWHILE, Osun State House of Assembly, yesterday, disagreed with Governor Adeleke over his decision to reverse the slogan of the state, among other insignia.

One of the major decisions that the new governor announced in his inaugural speech was the change of the name of the state from the ‘State of Osun’ to ‘Osun State.’

Adeleke also reversed the Osun slogan from “The State of the Virtuous” to “The State of the Living Spring,” saying that “The State of Osun” is unconstitutional.

BUT the lawmakers, in a statement signed by the Chairman, of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, for and on behalf of the Assembly, Moshood Akande, dared the governor as they continued to use “State of Osun.”

They also disagreed with Adeleke on the usage of slogans, crest, state anthem and flag, saying they are enactments of law.