The League of Imams and Alfas in Osun State have called on all parties involved in the local government dispute in the state to comply with the rule of law as affirmed by the June 22nd ruling of the Court of Appeal which confirmed the legitimacy of elected PDP officials.
The League also called the attention of the Federal Government to the increasing pains and hardship the local government crisis is inflicting on the grassroots sector of the society.
This formed part of the resolutions of the League in a communiqué signed by Imam Musa Animasahun, the Grand Imam of Osun State. The communique was released after a meeting of the League on Wednesday in Osogbo.
DAILY POST recalled that there has been disagreement between the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government in the state over the leadership of the local governments.
After the Osun local government election on Saturday February 22, 2025, the state governor, Ademola Adeleke directed the PDP elected local government officials to steer clear of local government secretariats.
Violence had broken out days to the polls with attendant loss of lives including that of an APC chieftain, Remi Abass in Ikire, Irewole local government area of the state.
The APC LG chairmen who were elected on October 22, 2022 were sacked by judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo.
Reacting to the development on Wednesday, the religious leaders noted that in a bid to resolve the crisis, the body had informed federal authorities of several petitions and appeals from the Muslim ummah.
The statement said, “The assembly in a unanimous resolution therefore specifically appeals to President Tinubu to direct the immediate release of Osun withheld allocations and the recognition of PDP elected officials in compliance with rule of law and due process as exemplify in the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal republic;
“The assembly further tasks all muslim office holders at the federal level especially those from Osun and Kwara States to ensure the implementation of Number 5 above in the best interest of the muslim Ummah and as a sacred religious duty.
“The league commends President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his consistent efforts to reform the national economy and make life better for Nigerians.
“The league prays for the success of the Federal Government;
“The assembly praises Governor Ademola Adeleke for his diplomatic and consensual based leadership style which has ensured sustained growth and development of Osun state.
“The assembly particularly appreciates the handling of local government question in a way that ensure peace and tranquility despite the very difficult nature of the local government crisis;
“The assembly hails the governor’s embrace of rule of law and due process as a smart strategy for the resolution of the impasse.”
The clerics while commending the residents of the state for turning out enmasse for the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, hailed the emergence of the state as the number one among the 36 states.
It urged all those who have registered to ensure they collect their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs.
The communique added, “The assembly also commends the people of Osun state for turning out en masse for the voters registration exercise, hailing the emergence of Osun as the number one among the 36 states in final returns.
“The League however urges those who registered online or are yet to collect their voter cards to reach their designated collection points without delay. The league emphasized that exercising voting rights is a religious duty.
“The meeting further appeal for peace among warring scholars within the South West Ummah, asking that the debate on the controversial issue be taken off the social media space.”
