Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has dismissed allegations by the All Progressives Congress, APC, within the state that he bribed the management of the Nationwide Union of Native Authorities Workers, NULGE.
Governor Adeleke additionally described the claims as baseless and a risk to democracy and the judiciary.
In an announcement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Sunday, Governor Adeleke, mentioned the APC’s claims have been unfounded and one other try to undermine the rule of regulation.
He mentioned the APC’s steady assaults and falsehoods have been a manifestation of the opposition’s disregard for the judiciary and democratic ideas.
“The extent of impunity on show by the state APC constitutes a severe risk to our democratic life. The social gathering began by falsifying a Courtroom of Attraction judgment to assert a faux reinstatement of its court-sacked chairmen,” he mentioned.
In accordance with him, the APC had proceeded to disregard a legitimate judgment that affirmed the legality of the Peoples Democratic Celebration, PDP, chairmen and councillors throughout the native governments.
“Behaving like political robbers in a lawless nation, the state APC obtained much more emboldened to invade and occupy the council secretariats with none authorized mandate. With a system that seems to pander to illegality, the opposition openly made to assert public funds via one other layer of illegality till they have been legally stopped,” he acknowledged.
He added that the judiciary had offered vital interventions, however the opposition’s open disregard for courtroom processes had reached an alarming stage.
“The judiciary had waded in to set the information straight. Sadly, the state APC seems so bitter and so daring about its disrespect for the judiciary that it may nonetheless be debating a matter now earlier than the best courtroom within the land,” he maintained.
He urged the general public to ignore the APC’s new bag of lies, saying the employees’ union was an unbiased physique that wanted no inducement to guard its personal pursuits.
“The battle to cease the tried looting of the native authorities treasury is a collective effort of all stakeholders who want no inducement to behave responsibly. The opposition has come to the top of its recreation; the individuals have resisted illegality, and the judiciary will quickly make its last pronouncement,” he added.
Earlier, the Osun APC had accused Governor Adeleke of financially inducing placing NULGE officers to maintain their extended absence from work.
The APC, in an announcement signed by its Director of Media and Data, Kola Olabisi, alleged that the governor paid senior NULGE officers massive sums to proceed their strike.
In accordance with the APC, a viral video recorded by a senior NULGE member revealed that every Head of Native Authorities Administration within the 69 native councils, together with Native Council Growth Areas, LCDAs, obtained ₦750,000, whereas Administrators of Administration and Finance have been paid ₦500,000 every.
Different Administrators and NULGE chairmen have been mentioned to have obtained ₦250,000 every, allegedly from the state authorities, to maintain the eight-month work abandonment.
“It’s fairly unusual {that a} authorities may go so low to the extent of selling and funding an unlawful work abandonment towards itself. This has led to the avoidable struggling of conventional rulers and grassroots dwellers,” Olabisi mentioned.
He additional alleged that the governor’s actions have been answerable for delays in native authorities fund disbursements and accused Adeleke of shifting blame to the APC and federal businesses.
“Our soothing balm as a celebration is that this present authorities is tenured, and it’ll finish by twenty seventh November 2026. The APC will return to revive the misplaced glory of the state,” he added
He additionally criticised NULGE leaders for promoting out their conscience, accusing them of abandoning the welfare of rank-and-file council staff who’re struggling to outlive through the protracted strike.
The APC, whereas sustaining that the alleged bribery was an act of betrayal to the workforce, harassed that many retirees had missed their terminal advantages and celebrations as a result of extended work stoppage.
