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Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, has demanded the release of more than $ 130 billion in statutory funds, which he claims were withheld from the state’s local governments.
He claims that the ongoing blockade has harmed local government and caused hardship to residents and workers.
In a statewide broadcast on Monday about the unlawful occupation of local government secretariats and the defense of democratic order, Adeleke claimed that the court-sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors had unlawfully occupied state offices for nearly a year despite court-sacked Osogbo judgments from the state’s top courts in November of that year and court-affirmed affirmations from the Court of Appeal in February and June of that year, which invalidated their elections
The governor remarked, “The court removed them, not my administration,” and emphasized that new local government elections were held in accordance with existing court orders, leading to the swearing-in of duly elected chairmen and councillors on February 23, 2025.
He referred to the secretariats’ current owners as being deposed and acting without a valid mandate.
Adeleke claimed that supporting the ongoing occupation with police support undermines democracy and the rule of law by former governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola.
He further claimed that political thugs and armed police officers harassed and intimidated local government employees who attempted to resume their duties.
The withholding of local government funds was central to the governor’s address. Adeleke made it clear that the councils’ legal accounts have not been made public about the statutory allocations due to Osun local governments, which total approximately $ 130 billion, as of February 2025.
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He claimed that the funds are necessary to cover the salaries of council workers, traditional council members, and retirees in 332 primary health care centers.
He argued that the state government had to look for money and make agonizing sacrifices to keep salaries paid for almost a year, which he claimed was unsustainable.
He said that while “government is about humanity, responsibility, and compassion,” this burden cannot continue indefinitely.
The governor also pointed out that senior bank officials are already facing criminal charges against the United Bank for Africa (UBA) for allegedly allowing unauthorised persons to operate local government accounts.
He questioned whether the bank’s operations in New York or London would tolerate such behavior.
Adeleke pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow for the release of the withheld funds and safeguard democratic institutions.
He urged the President to rescue Osun local governments from what he described as an unlawful siege and insisted that the president was not involved in the alleged illegality.
Adeleke framed the crisis as a choice between constitutional order and complete impunity, noting that “there is no provision in our Constitution for tenure elongation.”
He demanded the release of council funds and the immediate end to the occupation of local government secretariats in Nigeria and democracy advocates.
A gang of armed robbers targeted motorists near the MRS Filling Station on Friday, January 23, breaking the calm and tranquility of the Kado district in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
An immediate response was called at the Mabushi Divisional Headquarters at around 6:15 am, according to police reports.
Officers immediately called in the suspects to a shootout.
One gang member had a bad luck when he was shot and apprehended at the scene, despite the majority of the group’s escape into the nearby bushes.
A police response team from Mabushi Division responded to the scene as soon as they heard the report, according to the command’s police public relations officer, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement released on Monday and obtained by Persecondnews.
She explained that the suspects, who were about three in number, made an attempt to flee after being spotted by the police team, which led to a pursuit and a gunfight.
One of the suspects received gunshot wounds during the incident, and was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, while the remaining suspects fled into nearby bushes, she said.
A Volkswagen Golf 2 in black with registration number was recovered from the robbery suspects at the scene along with an operational vehicle. One Firman generator, one Tecno Spark 4 Android phone, one Barreta pistol, one locally produced pistol, and one Tecno T353 phone are all included.
One Access Bank ATM card, one catapult, one pair of pliers, two pairs of canvas shoes, two pairs of slippers, one singlet, one cap, one jacket, one T-shirt, and one handkerchief are also included.
Adeh claimed that arrest efforts are still being made for the suspects who were fleeing.
She claimed that Police Commissioner Miller G. Dantawaye has reassured residents of the security-related commitment of the organization.
He reassures Federal Capital Territory residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property.
Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano State, had promised to keep his job, according to Dipo Olayoku, the party’s national secretary.
However, Olayoku, who made this statement on Monday during an interview with The Morning Brief on Channels Television, made it clear that the governor’s decision was not unexpected.
He claims that Yusuf’s defection was planned about a year ago.
He continued to say that despite the fact that some of the party members had confronted him about some of these moves, he would continue to support the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) despite these discussions.
He continued, “We had our national convention on December 20, 2025,” adding that the governor had lied about his departure. He even gave a speech about what he called “unity” among party members, the party chieftain continued.
Olayoku questioned whether the governor was entitled to defection, but he also raised a moral issue.
The big question is, “But what about the Kano people who gave their lives to support him and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)?” he inquired.
Defection
In a letter to the NNPP Chairman of the Diso-Chiranchi Ward in the Gwale Local Government Area, Yusuf resigned last week. The resignation date is January 23, 2026.
He left the party because of persistent internal crises and the need to defend the state’s general interests.
He claimed that the party’s divisions had grown worse and that there had become less cohesive as a result of the disagreements.
Ijebu-Ode residents have peacefully protested in opposition to the Ogun State government’s decision to halt the selection process for alleged irregularities in the area’s selection process for a new traditional ruler.
The protest came after the selection process for a new Ijebuland was suspended.
The demonstrators marched through major streets in the ancient town while carrying placards with inscriptions urging a free, fair, and transparent selection process under the auspices of Ijebu Sons and Daughters and Ijebu-Ode Progressive Youths.
The Chairman, Dare Alebiosu, addressed the crowd at the Ijebu-Ode Local Government Secretariat.
The chairman explained to the protesters that the Ogun State Government had no preference for a candidate and that the suspension was only intended to ensure strict compliance with the law.
Awujale: Ogun LG Stops the Selection Process
He claimed that the government isn’t concerned with the identity of the Awujale in the end. The selection process was made to ensure fairness and transparency.
He praised the protesters’ peaceful behavior and assured them that the selection process that would eventually lead to the creation of a new Awujale would soon resume. It would also reflect the people’s wishes and aspirations.  ,
A resident of the town Babatunde Salami said the demonstration was meant to send a clear message to the rulers to act responsibly.
The Awujale stool is regarded highly in Yoruba, Nigeria, and even beyond. We want the right rulers to make their choice for our nation. he stated
He continued, “We are here to demand that all laws be followed.” We don’t want moneybags to sabotage the process and make it pointless.
The protesters also urged contestants to receive equal treatment, noting that the traditional title should not be used as a justification for disqualification.
“We’ve heard bribery allegations against both the selection process and the contestants. Anyone found guilty must be punished by the government. We don’t want the procedure to be compromised, as it could lead to pointless litigation.
In addition, the Alagemos in Ijebuland have backed the Ogun State Government’s actions to ensure a smooth selection process.
The kingmakers should now sit down and go over the process in full transparency, according to the Funsengbuwa Ruling House.
Ijebu-Ode residents have peacefully protested in opposition to the Ogun State government’s decision to halt the selection process for alleged irregularities in the area’s selection process for a new traditional ruler.
The protest came after the selection process for a new Ijebuland was suspended.
The demonstrators marched through major streets in the ancient town while carrying placards with inscriptions urging a free, fair, and transparent selection process under the auspices of Ijebu Sons and Daughters and Ijebu-Ode Progressive Youths.
The Chairman, Dare Alebiosu, addressed the crowd at the Ijebu-Ode Local Government Secretariat.
The chairman explained to the protesters that the Ogun State Government had no preference for a candidate and that the suspension was only intended to ensure strict compliance with the law.
Awujale: Ogun LG Stops the Selection Process
He claimed that the government isn’t concerned with the identity of the Awujale in the end. The selection process was made to ensure fairness and transparency.
He praised the protesters’ peaceful behavior and assured them that the selection process that would eventually lead to the creation of a new Awujale would soon resume. It would also reflect the people’s wishes and aspirations.  ,
A resident of the town Babatunde Salami said the demonstration was meant to send a clear message to the rulers to act responsibly.
The Awujale stool is regarded highly in Yoruba, Nigeria, and even beyond. We want the right rulers to make their choice for our nation. he stated
He continued, “We are here to demand that all laws be followed.” We don’t want moneybags to sabotage the process and make it pointless.
The protesters also urged contestants to receive equal treatment, noting that the traditional title should not be used as a justification for disqualification.
“We’ve heard bribery allegations against both the selection process and the contestants. Anyone found guilty must be punished by the government. We don’t want the procedure to be compromised, as it could lead to pointless litigation.
In addition, the Alagemos in Ijebuland have backed the Ogun State Government’s actions to ensure a smooth selection process.
The kingmakers should now sit down and go over the process in full transparency, according to the Funsengbuwa Ruling House.