AMILOADED MEDIA HUB NEWS UPDATE
The Osun Masterminds has expressed its support for the purposed conduct of the local government election by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), AMILOADED reports.
The Osun Masterminds said the election is long overdue adding that the people of the state at the grassroots have. Even shortchanged through the absence of elected heads of local governments who can truly deliver governance at the level.
The group said this at a press conference addressed by its Executive Director, Dr Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, on Tuesday.
Oyedokun-Alli said, “We must state that the election of Local Government Chairmen and Councillors is long overdue and should have come way earlier than the present time. The people of the state at the grassroots continue getting shortchanged through the absence of elected heads of Local Governments who can truly deliver governance at that level.
“Understanding however that it is never too late to do the right thing, we believe that the conduct of the Local Government election is a step in the right direction, despite being late. We therefore endorse the proposed Local Government election, provided it is conducted with full respect to the rule of law and regard for the rights of every party involved.”
He added that OSSIEC must not only ensure a free, fair and credible election, it must also “posture as doing so”.
“The commission must not be seen as doing the bidding of any of the political parties or stakeholders involved in the election. Utterances, posturing, engagements and conducts of the commission must reflect transparency and true democratic ideals, understanding that it is an independent commission that is expected to be fair to all.
“Political parties are enjoined to perceive this election as a critical democratic process that will deepen our governance and thus, all political parties with presence in the State, should endeavor to participate.
“It must be said, that allegations of foul play in the absence of any act thus describable, amounts to blackmail and political manipulation. For as long as OSSIEC reassures the parties concerned, the commission must not be accused of foul play when it does not posture in such light.
“The ruling party is advised to ensure that it does not deploy the machinery of State to thwart the freewill of the Electorates. While having influential links over several arms of society at present, it must not use these links to dictate the direction of election as doing this will render useless, the supposed intention of deepening democracy,” Oyedokun-Alli said.
Speaking on the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, The Osun Masterminds Director said the supporters of the two major parties to the petition before the tribunal – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) – have “gone about town misleading and misinforming unsuspecting members of the public with information about the goings-on at the Tribunal that are not just false, but are also subjudice.”
“We know that the country’s justice system has evolved over the years and can therefore be relied upon to deliver justice in the matter. Parties are therefore counseled to allow the Tribunal do its job without the reckless misinformation going on social media.
“We must also advise parties to the petition, to rein in their party members and ensure that while the brickbats go on at the tribunal, there is no breakdown of law and order within the society. We cannot allow a Court process disrupt the relative peace that Osun has been known for in the comity of States,” Oyedokun-Alli added.
He further commended the commitment of Governor Gboyega Oyetola to the “continuity of governance until his last day in office, saying, “It is impressive that despite the outcome of the last election, he has stayed committed to the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of the State.
“We want to encourage him to continue on this path, as it is the ethical thing to do to ensure the sustenance of our growing democracy.”
While speaking on the PDP transition committee, The Osun Masterminds director said, “As we approach the November 27 swearing-in date for the Governor-Elect, we have keenly followed the activities of the PDP Transition Committee and we are aware of its ongoing engagement of consultants, who are giving the committee briefs and insights into what the approach to governance should be when the PDP gets to power.
“We have seen unfortunately, the engagement of certain persons under whose superintendency over the State’s affairs, our economy was plunged into non-sustainability and near-irredeemable indebtedness.
“We strongly advise the committee, to avoid receiving supposedly progressive ideas from persons or groups of persons who got the State into the present economic quagmire that it is in. We do not as a group, have any axe to grind with any person or groups of persons, but we must in the best interest of our dear State, give timely counsel when we see critical stakeholders making avoidable mistakes.
“The Transition Committee’s decision to inaugurate a Youth liaison committee stands commended. We however advise the committee to ensure that it engages all critical stakeholders in the Youth community, with a view to developing workable youth strategies that the new government can run with when it comes into power.”
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