Osun LG Crisis Deepens: Governor Adeleke Reportedly Weeps Amidst Withheld Funds and Clashes
The political landscape of Osun State remains steeped in turmoil as a deepening crisis over the control of local governments continues to grip the state. The escalating imbroglio has reportedly pushed Governor Ademola Adeleke to the brink, with credible sources indicating he wept uncontrollably during a recent cabinet meeting, unable to commence proceedings until consoled by his commissioners. This emotional outburst underscores the severe financial strain imposed on the state since the federal government began withholding local government allocations in February 2025.
The genesis of this protracted crisis lies in a legal tug-of-war following the October 2022 local government elections. A High Court ruling initially nullified these polls, leading to the ousting of All Progressives Congress (APC) officials who had been declared winners. However, a contentious Appeal Court judgment on February 10, 2025, reportedly reinstated the sacked APC council executives – a decision vehemently opposed by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State.
Bloodshed and Financial Gridlock
This legal quagmire has tragically spilled onto the streets, manifesting in violent confrontations. Tensions reached a boiling point in February 2025 when sacked APC local government chairmen attempted to forcibly reclaim their offices. These attempts triggered brutal clashes with PDP supporters, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries, including the tragic death of Remi Abass, the former chairman of Irewole Local Government Area. In a bid to restore order amidst the escalating chaos, Governor Adeleke was forced to order the immediate closure of all local government secretariats.
Osun State's Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, revealed the governor's emotional distress, recounting Adeleke's fifteen-minute period of uncontrollable weeping during a cabinet meeting last weekend. Eluwole lamented that the crisis has birthed a profound "paucity of funds" due to the withheld federal allocations, severely impeding the state government's ability to fund crucial infrastructure projects and other essential services. He chillingly compared the situation in Osun to be even more dire than the widely publicized Rivers State crisis, which necessitated a declaration of emergency.
Government Reassurances and Political Undercurrents
Despite the turbulent environment, the Osun State government has reaffirmed its commitment to resolving the impasse through legal avenues. They have also dismissed claims of service disruptions across local governments, assuring the public that health, education, and administrative services remain fully operational despite the ongoing political standoff. Furthermore, the state conducted new local government elections on February 22, 2025, a move that the opposition APC has sharply criticized as misleading and a mere political maneuver.
The deepening crisis has also fueled fervent rumors of Governor Adeleke potentially contemplating a defection from the PDP to the APC. Such a significant political shift is reportedly linked to the federal government's decision to withhold local government funds and other escalating political pressures. While the governor's spokesperson has vehemently denied any such plans, the persistent speculation underscores the profound political divisions and the exceptionally high stakes involved in the struggle for local government control in Osun State.
The path to resolution for this crisis remains fraught with uncertainty, likely hinging on further legal pronouncements and intricate political negotiations between the state and federal governments, as well as the rival political parties.
