The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke and the ruling Accord over alleged politicisation of security matters in the state.
In a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by Kola Olabisi, the Osun APC Director of Media and Information, the party said the protection of lives and property should remain the foremost responsibility of all tiers of government.
The statement faulted recent remarks by the Accord criticising local government efforts to support security agencies.
According to the APC, the condemnation of local council chairmen for donating operational vehicles to the police was “uncalled for, frivolous and ill-motivated.”
The party stated that the council executives, whom it described as legally reinstated, acted within their responsibilities to provide support to security agencies in combating crime.
“It is surprising that a ruling party would condemn efforts aimed at strengthening security operations in the state,” Olabisi said.
The APC argued that the initiative by the council chairmen was intended to enhance policing capacity and ensure better protection of residents across Osun State.
The statement also suggested that the criticism from the Accord Party stemmed from what it termed discomfort with the exposure of alleged governance shortcomings.
“We observe that the concern of the Accord Party is not about the policy itself but the fact that it highlights gaps in the priorities of the current administration,” the statement read.
The APC maintained that security should not be subjected to political disagreements, emphasising that collaborative efforts were necessary to address crime effectively.
It added that the reinstated council officials remained legally recognised pending the exhaustion of all legal processes regarding their tenure.
“The council executives remain the duly elected representatives until all judicial processes, including those at the Supreme Court, are concluded,” Olabisi stated.
The party urged the state government and political actors to focus on strengthening security rather than engaging in disputes over initiatives aimed at supporting law enforcement agencies.
The Accord in statement by its chairman, Pastor Victor Akande on Sunday cautioned the Osun State Police Command against accepting vehicle donations from the court-sacked council chairmen of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Pastor Akande also warned that such donations were proceeds of criminal enterprise that may implicate the police.
The party also alerted the public that the illegal APC chairmen have again diverted parts of the hijacked Osun local government funds for the purchase of vehicles to be donated to the police service.
The party appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to stop what it described as a brazen attempt to further compromise the police service through illegal donations derived from criminal conduct.
It also tasked the IGP to direct the Osun Police Command not to accept such offers, noting that the subject matter is already before several courts of law, while some senior officials of the UBA are standing trial for the alleged criminal diversion of Osun local government funds.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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