People who thought that all that the recently sworn-in Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke could offer were farcical dances, must have changed their mind now. The new number one citizen of the southwestern state riding on the slogan, “imole de (the light has come)” postures himself as one who is rapidly on the mission of cleansing the Augean stables. While his supporters see him as the ardent reformer who has come to rid the state of its entrenched cesspit of corruption engendered by the Immediate past Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, cynics and skeptics are chagrined by some quick and salvo-like decisions he has started taking since his first day in office.
In his inaugural speech on the 27th day of November, 2022, he gave an executive order for an immediate reversal to the “constitutionally recognised” name of the state. He said all government insignias, correspondences and signages would thenceforth bear “Osun State” rather than “State of Osun” which he said was unknown to the Nigerian constitution. He also gave the order for the reversal of the slogan of the state from “Land of Virtue” to the original one, “State of the Living Spring”.
These orders raised dust and elicited criticisms among some people in the state especially those who served in the immediate past administration. The erstwhile ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress condemned the act, opining that it was an evidence of political rascality on the part of Adeleke who contested and won the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The State House of Assembly which has an APC majority also picked holes in the executive orders particularly those affecting the state anthem, crest, flag and appellation.
The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Hon. Moshood Kunle Akande, in a press release said the usage of the state anthem, crest and flag was backed by the law assented to on December 18, 2012 and as such it was a matter of law and not a choice.
His words: “The usage of the state anthem, crest and flag is an enactment of law and as such, its usage is a matter of law and not choice. The enactment ‘State of Osun Anthem, Crest and Flag Law, 2012’ assented to on the 18th of December, 2012 contained in Schedule 1, Il, Ill, IV and V, which carefully details every component of this law is not in ambiguity.
The House of Assembly said that it was aware of a court judgment in effect recognising only the name “Osun State” but it maintained it was pending the determination and exhaustion of all legal means on the issue. It insisted that the state appellation would continue to be “State of the Virtuous (Ipinle Omoluabi)” .
But Adeleke’s tough or rash decisions (depending on the way you see it) extended to his alleged sacking the 12,000 workers employed by the past administration citing non-adherence of due process and provision of payment.
Three monarchs were also axed as he also described their emergence as one coming in from the back door. To avoid breakdown of law and order, he ordered they vacate their palaces.
Defending some of his orders, Adeleke said that the orders were meant to dismantle illegalities and clean up the mess he inherited.
“The man I defeated set many traps for my administration but we are removing all the evil structures they put in place. I have used the first one week to take charge and set the tone for good governance. We are shaking up the system, unveiling and commencing implementation of our agenda and all I have done and will still do is to serve the people, meet their aspirations, and restore good governance in Osun State,” Adeleke said.
Diademng sought the opinion of a legal practitioner, Mr Wahab Abdulahi over the issue. He said that if the changing of the name of the state done by a former governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was an enactment of the law by the State House of Assembly , then the executive order was illegal, null and void. He, however, said that if there was a court order to back the current executive order reversing the name of the state, then the order had come to stay.
Abdulahi, however, said the executive orders were not the first things the governor should have done. He said he should have waited to go through the files, examine certain things, constitute a panel to look into how the workers were employed and also looked critically into the process of choosing obas before giving the orders. He described the executive orders as malice tainted and politically motivated. He said those affected have the right to seek redress in a competent court of jurisdiction.
As the dancing governor continues to dance in the storm raging in the state, one wonders how he is going to survive the a possible onslaught from a House of Assembly dominated by the opposition party. It is also yet not known whether the outcome of the court case instituted by his disgruntled immediate past successor, Oyetola would imply an ignominious exit from the state house for him.
