By Kolawole Ojebisi
The House of Representatives has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director General, Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, to restore peace and order in Osun State.
The green chamber made the call following the crisis which engulfed the South-West State on Monday, leading to the death of about six persons.
The House unanimously agreed on the move following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by all members of the state’s caucus in the green chamber.
The motion was read on the floor by the member representing Ede North/Ede South/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal Constituency, Bamidele Salam during plenary on Wednesday.
According to Salam, violence broke out in several parts of the state on Monday “As a result of an attempt to take over the administration of local governments by officials who were sacked by court judgement in November 2022.”
He said, “The House is disturbed that the sacked officials are now breaking the gates of their respective local government secretariat to forcefully take over the government of the local government without any court order.
“The Governor of Osun State as the Chief Security officer of the state had raised an alarm on Sunday, February 16, about an imminent threat to peace and security in the state while calling on the Inspector General of Police and other heads of security formations to take proactive steps to forestall the violence.
“The House is concerned that if the current trend of resort to self-help by political actors is not nipped in the bud, it might encourage citizens to do the same in the face of perceived rights and privileges.”
He also warned that “The present situation in Osun State may snowball into a free-for-all all unless relevant authorities take urgent actions.”
The caucus expressed optimism in the ability of the Nigerian Police to curtail the crisis.
With the overwhelming support of the opposition, the House presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, urged the IGP and DG, DSS and other security heads to ensure normalcy and restore order throughout the State.
The Speaker thereafter announced the constitution of an ad-hoc committee to investigate the crisis with former Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, as the Chairman and Fred Agbedi as the Deputy Chairman.
There was chaos in the state on Monday, following the insistence of sacked local government chairmen and councillors to return to council offices, a move resisted by the Peoples Democratic Party supporters.
The All Progressives Congress members moved to enforce the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, which overturned their sack by the Osogbo Federal High Court verdict on November 25, 2022.
PDP members, however, also mobilised to the council secretariats in large numbers and clashed with the APC members, a development that led to the loss of six lives and destruction of properties in many local government areas in the state.
