Osun LG Crisis: Group Blames Oyetola for Stalling Peace, Warns of Consequences for President’s Re-election

Osun LG Crisis: Group Blames Oyetola for Stalling Peace, Warns of Consequences for President’s Re-election

A socio-political group, Osun Democrats for Democracy (ODD), has accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of frustrating efforts to resolve the local government crisis in Osun State, alleging that his anti-labour and anti-people agenda is undermining President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the state.

In a statement issued in Osogbo today, the group faulted Oyetola’s alleged insistence on an anti-labour and anti-masses approach, which it claimed contributed to the APC’s losses in previous elections. It questioned why the minister would undermine the President’s re-election campaign by pursuing policies that could alienate voters across Osun State.

Expressing concern over Oyetola’s alleged opposition to a political solution to the local government crisis, the group lamented that the minister was pursuing the same strategy it claimed contributed to his electoral defeats in 2022 and 2026, despite the ongoing campaign to secure support for President Tinubu in Osun State.

“Mr Oyetola insists on hating labour and the masses, who command overwhelming voting strength in Osun elections. He did the same in 2022 and failed. He repeated that same line in 2026 and suffered another major defeat. Now, he is toeing the same line in the presidential election.

“Is Oyetola planning to ensure that the President fails in Osun State? Is Oyetola deliberately alienating labour and the masses so that they will vote against the President? If Oyetola truly loves the President, why is he sustaining his attacks on labour and Osun’s grassroots by blocking the release of Osun’s withheld allocations?

“The Governor promised to deliver 1.5 million votes to Mr President. Those who command these votes are workers, labour and grassroots communities whose funds are being withheld. Even when the President demonstrated readiness, the minister has allegedly been linked to all manner of shenanigans designed to stall a resolution and keep Osun’s local government funds unreleased. This is highly disappointing because this is the time Osun people should be fully mobilised to support Mr President.

“We place on record our strong reservations about Minister Oyetola’s attitude towards the fundamental interests of Mr President. Specifically, we call on all stakeholders, locally and nationally, to recognise the damage being inflicted on the President’s political interests by Mr Oyetola. This must be stopped without further delay.

“The consensus across party lines is that the local government issue should be resolved amicably, especially as the purported tenure of the APC officials has lapsed and there is no provision for tenure elongation in the Nigerian Constitution. The option is to reconcile accounts and make severance payments as part of a political solution, while the PDP-elected officials complete their remaining one-year tenure before a date is announced for a new election, to be held a year from January 2027.

“When implemented, the above proposal will strengthen the President’s campaign and embolden the Governor to lead the state towards delivering the promised 1.5 million votes. Why is Minister Oyetola opposed to this popular line of action? Why is he working for the failure of the presidential project in Osun State?”

Signed:

Adeyefa Adeyemo
Director of Operations and Public Affairs
Osun Democrats for Democracy (ODD)
12 November 2026