“Osun Crisis: Activist Claims APC’s Actions Are ‘A Coup in Disguise’

An Abuja-based lawyer and rights activist, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming that any attempt to forcefully take over the government of Osun State would lead to “unimaginable chaos and anarchy.”

During a media conference on Wednesday at his law firm, Olajengbesi condemned the recent actions of APC-linked groups in Osun who have tried to take over the local governments. He described their actions as a coup, despite any judgments that might be in their favor. According to Olajengbesi, taking the law into their own hands under the guise of enforcing a Court of Appeal judgment was completely wrong.

He emphasized that while there are lawful procedures for the execution of court judgments, the actions taken by the groups involved in Osun’s local government crisis violated those procedures and usurped the powers of those authorized to enforce court rulings.

Olajengbesi further argued that the APC’s blatant disregard for the law posed a major threat to Nigeria’s democracy. “You cannot execute a judgment on your own; what is happening in Osun is a deliberate attempt at a coup,” he said, adding that the Court of Appeal’s judgment had been misinterpreted to suit the group’s actions.

Having reviewed the Court of Appeal’s judgment, the lawyer pointed out that the court did not order the reinstatement of former local government chairmen, stating that the issue had been overtaken by events and was now academic. He warned against using dishonesty and blackmail to distort the judgment and provoke further unrest in Osun.

Olajengbesi commended Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke for advising members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to avoid involvement in the local government dispute, to prevent unnecessary violence. He also urged the people of Osun to remain calm and vigilant in the face of provocation, warning that the situation would soon prove that Nigeria is no “banana republic.”