British Commission raises concern over insecurity in Osun

• Ooni, Baxter urge peace, decry killings, wanton destruction of property
• Prevail on Adeleke to stop scheduled council poll, APC chieftain tells Tinubu
• APC writes OSSIEC, withdraws from election
• Religious leaders urge peace, warn Tinubu, IGP against taking sides

The British Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Jonny Baxter, has expressed concern over insecurity in Osun State occasioned by the battle for the control of local council secretariats between members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He decried the killings and wanton destruction of property caused by the hostilities between the two political parties, stressing the need for all stakeholders to prioritise peace, security sanctity of lives above individual interests.

This was contained in a statement forwarded to journalists in Osogbo yesterday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs to the Ooni of Ife, Moses Olafare.

The statement quoted Baxter to have expressed the concern when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in his palace.

The diplomat tasked Oba Ogunwusi as the paramount leader of the Yoruba people to take decisive steps to restore the peace and tranquility for which the state is known.

Responding on behalf of the Osun State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Ogunwusi condemned the violence and urged all political actors in the state to place peace above personal ambitions, reminding the politicians that no one is bigger than the state.

The Ooni assured the British Deputy High Commissioner’s delegation that traditional rulers in the state had intervened in the matter and that efforts were being made to restore normalcy and peace in the state.

MEANWHILE, a chieftain of the APC in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to prevail on Governor Ademola Adeleke not to go ahead with the conduct of tomorrow’s council election in the state.

Oyintiloye said that since there was no vacuum in the councils, conducting election would be an aberration, urging the state government to approach the Supreme Court if not satisfied with the Court of Appeal judgment.

The APC chieftain said this, yesterday, while speaking with journalists in Osogbo.

HOWEVER, the state chapter of the APC, yesterday, withdrew from participating in the scheduled council poll.
The party, in a letter addressed to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), attributed its withdrawal to the Appeal Court judgment delivered in Akureon February 10, 2025, which purportedly reinstated the council chairmen and councillors hitherto sacked by a Federal High Court in November, 2022.

Meanwhile, church leaders, under the umbrella of Conference of the Heads of the Mainline Churches, in Osogbo, have condemned the wanton killings and destruction of property in Osogbo.

They, therefore, called for the return of peace and solidarity in the state, saying that residents of the state have been living in severe panic since politicians unleashed mayhem on the state on Monday.

Other church leaders, who spoke in their separate interviews, sought peace and urged the President and other key stakeholders and authorities to allow fear of God to prevail in restoring peace in the state.