A human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, praised Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke for rescinding the appointments and other actions taken by his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, following his defeat in the Osun State gubernatorial election on 16 July 2022.
The lawyer stated that people were proud of Adeleke’s approach to governance and the actions taken in the few days she arrived in office.
The lawyer, in a statement Saturday, said public officials must learn to act constitutionally whether or not they lose an election. He also called Oyetola’s action an “abuse of power because it violates the law.”
the punch reports that Adeleke of the Peoples’ Democratic Party defeated then incumbent Oyetola of the All Progressive Congress in the July 16, 2022 election, winning 17 local government areas out of 30 local council areas in the state.
Following his defeat, Oyetola held local government elections on 15 October through the Osun State Independent Election Commission, which was later annulled by an Osogbo-based Federal High Court as it contravened Sections 29 and 32 of the Electoral Law of 2022.
Likewise, days before the end of his term in November, Oyetola appointed 30 public servants as Titular Secretaries, among other appointments.
Reacting, Olajengbesi said: “Governor Ademola Adeleke deserves to be congratulated again for removing an incumbent. It is not an easy task, but only a stubborn and courageous fighter and democrat can face it.
“Having said that, the good people of Osun State are proud of Senator Adeleke’s actions in the few days he took office since November 27, 2022. From freezing all government accounts to reversing the name from Osun state to Osun state, the suspension of monarchs hastily appointed by Oyetola after their defeat, the removal of the chairman of the Osun electoral commission, the order for all former appointees under Oyetola to return property the government, among others. All of these steps are laudable and show that Governor Adeleke is someone who values responsibility and fairness.
“The perspective that Oyetola acted flagrantly in contravention of the constitution through his spurious and selfish appointments towards the end of his disastrous administration must be properly established.
“Indeed, the apparent aggression at the start of Adeleke’s government stems simply from Oyetola and his administration failing to cooperate with the 37-member Transition Committee established by Senator Adeleke after the PDP gubernatorial candidate’s victory. The Oyetola government did not deliver any report to the now state governor. Oyetola demonstrated hostility, political bitterness, and intolerance by failing to cooperate with Senator Adeleke through a proper surrender process.
“One should encourage Senator Adeleke to continue his firm control over the draconian laws and policies of the Oyetola government. Democracy must consist of paying dividends to the people and not a few people enriching themselves through spurious appointments of their cronies. The people of Osun have seen the light and this light will not fail them in terms of infrastructure delivery, quality education, affordable housing, drinking water, stable electricity, security and timely payment of workers’ salaries, among others”.