BY ANTHONY OCHELA, ABUJA
Abuja based lawyer and rights activist, Pelumi Olajengbesi has warned the federal government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that any attempt to forcefully take over the government of Osun state will lead to unimaginable chaos and anarchy.
The lawyer warned the actors in the political crisis emanating from the running of local governments in Osun State to thread softly and toe the part of justice and peace.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday at his law corridor firm, Olajengbesi faulted the forceful takeover of the local governments in Osun by some groups linked to the APC in the state.
He said that the forceful takeover was like a coup adding that, even if the actors have judgement in their favour, it was completely wrong to take laws into their hands under the guise of enforcing Court of Appeal judgement.
The lawyer insisted that there are procedures for judgment execution in the country, adding that the way and manner the actors in the Osun local government crisis acted was in breach of laws and usurpation of functions of those empowered to enforce court judgement.
By the unfolding local government crisis, Olajengbesi said democracy is facing another great challenge in the sense that disregard for laws has become the order of the day on the part of APC members.
“You cannot on your own execute judgment, deliberate attempt to commit coup is what is unfolding in Osun state government. Judgement of the Court of Appeal is being deliberately misinterpreted to suit their actions.
Giving insight into what led to the local government takeover crisis, the lawyer said that he had perused through the Court of Appeal judgement and did not find anywhere where the Court made consequential order for the reinstatement of the former local government chairmen.
He said that the issue of reinstatement was not treated by the Court of Appeal on the reasoning by the court itself that the issue has been overtaken by event and thus became an academic exercise.
He warned against using dishonesty and blackmail against the Court of Appeal judgement to set Osun on fire and forcefully takeover the political leadership in the state.
He praised the Governor of the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for asking the Peoples Democratic Party members in the state to stay away from the local governments to avoid unnecessary blood shedding that may arise in the process.
The lawyer then appeal to the people of the state to be peaceful and be vigilant in the face of provocation adding that events will soon show that Nigeria is not a banana republic.
