Security agencies in Osun State have been placed on heightened alert this Sunday following sharp exchanges between the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the state government over alleged plans for protests targeting branches of a commercial bank across the state.
The dispute centres on claims by the APC that demonstrations were being prepared by pensioners at United Bank for Africa, UBA, branches in response to controversies surrounding federal allocations to local government councils.
The opposition party in the state in a statement by Kola Olabisi, its Director of Media and Information alleged that the protests were politically motivated and urged authorities to act pre-emptively.
In a statement issued in Osogbo, the APC called on the state government to publicly distance itself from an organised attempt to stir public unrest.
The party said intelligence available to it suggested that the protests could take place as early as Monday.
According to the APC, “the alleged demonstrations were linked to the ongoing dispute over the direct payment of federal allocations to reinstated local government chairmen and councillors.”
The party maintained that the matter was already before the courts and should not be subjected to street action.
“The issue of local government allocations is a legal matter, and any attempt to move it to the streets is capable of endangering public peace. We call on the police to ensure that law and order were maintained,” it stated.
The opposition party, while warning elderly residents to avoid being drawn into actions that could expose them to harm, stated that senior citizens should not be used as instruments in politically charged protests with unpredictable outcomes.
Reacting swiftly, the Osun State Government dismissed the allegations as unfounded and politically driven.
The governor’s spokesperson, Molawale Rasheed, in a counter statement described the claims as spurious alarms intended to distract the public from broader governance issues.
“The administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke does not sponsor protests or agitations. Citizens are aware of their rights and can express grievances within the bounds of the law without prompting from government,” Rasheed said.
The state government stressed its commitment to due process and the rule of law, noting that it had consistently urged calm despite heightened political tensions.
He insisted that neither the governor nor members of his family had any involvement in organising demonstrations and accused the APC of attempting to politicise the grievances of workers and pensioners.
“The people of Osun are discerning and will not be misled by narratives designed to create fear,” he said.
The government also called on security agencies to remain vigilant, not against peaceful expression, but against any attempt to exploit public gatherings for violence.
“Security operatives should prevent any group from hijacking legitimate concerns to cause instability,” the spokesperson added.
Osun LG Impasse: APC, state govt clash over protest claims
