Gov Adeleke: Tinubu Using Federal Power To Intimidate States

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun has cautioned the federal government against the use of federal power to intimidate sub-nationals in the country. He said the national government should apply dialogue and allow rule of law to prevail in its engagement with state governments, to deepen the nation’s democracy.

The state’s helmsman spoke while delivering an address at the South West Summit organised by South West Development Commission in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

Represented at the event by his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, the governor stated that the state is willing to partner with the federal government so long it’s based on mutual respect, adding that a situation where the federal government will channel political appointments and infrastructure developments through party machinery threatens the relationship between nationals and sub-national.

For instance, he cited a situation where the state Local governments funds have been withheld for months by the federal government against a court ruling, saying federal security agencies have also refused to arrest APC members whenever they commit a crime, describing the situation as the “rule of the thumb.”

“A troubling dimension was introduced earlier this year when the rule of law was replaced with the rule of the thumb. The issue here relates to handling of the state Security and local government matters. It is trite in every democratic order that rule of law within the ambit of the constitution is the regulatory framework for wielding of state powers.

“In the case of Osun, federal power is being applied outside the regulation of the constitution as the public have known since the beginning of this year. Politicization of federal power application poses serious threats to peaceful and productive Intergovernmental relations.

“It would interest the audience to know that in Osun state ,some security agencies openly protect and defend ruling party operatives even when they act in ways and manners against the law and the constitution. In Osun today, federal party officials boast of powers to deploy security apparatus to witch-hunt state officials. On many occasions,  officials of the federal ruling party have openly declared their readiness to hijack the state whether the people voted for them or not. Worst still, they have security cover when making such provocative declarations.

“As if that is not enough, the Osun local government fund was seized without any court order from earlier this year. Duly elected local government officials were not allowed to assume office and those sacked by a subsisting court order were forced on the local government secretariats by federal power and security apparatus. All the facts are in the public domain.

“I cite all above details to shed light on impunity and abuse of power as a major impediment to a virile national and subnational collaboration. As a government Osun State has demonstrated the willingness and readiness for productive partnership and interaction. Despite hostile posturing, Osun is always a top participant in federal peer review of the 36 states.  In our engagements with the centre, several federal agencies have recognised Osun’ s positive records in governance delivery.”

The magazine reports that some political analysts claimed that the APC-led government has been using intimidation as a tactic to force some state governors to join the ruling party.

But Adeleke who had earlier been mentioned as one of the governors willing to defect to the ruling party, has suddenly made a-turn saying he will stay with his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.