A civil society organization in Osun state, The Peoples’ Advocates (TPA) has rated governor Ademola Adeleke high on the constitution of a review committee to look into the issues surrounding the upgrading of the state college of education, Ilesa to University.
The group also called for immediately review of transport management system to allow the local governments play its constitutional role of motor park management.
A statement jointly signed by the chairman and secretary of the group, Bayo Alade and Jolapamo Bolanle, Sunday, said as noble as policy on transport system is, it clearly violated the letters and spirit of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The 1999 constitution in the 4th Schedule expressly provides that the creation and management of motor parks is exclusively the responsibility of the local governments in Nigeria.
“Therefore, the introduction of the new transport management system without involving the local government is an attempt by the state government to usurp the duties of the local governments, and is a clear violation of the constitution. This is a minus for a government that rode to power on the promise of ensuring the autonomy of the local government system.
“We, therefore, call on the state government to immediately review the policy to allow the local governments play its constitutional role of motor park management.
On Ilesa university, the group said, “we want to give kudos to the governor for taking the bull by the horn in the case of the constitution of a review committee to look into the issues surrounding the upgrading of Osun State College of Education, Ilesa to University of Ilesa.
“The last administration placed politics above diligence by wanting to use the upgrade of the college to garner political support of the Ijesa people during the governorship election.
“In the same vein, we call on the state government to set up visitation panels to all the other tertiary institutions in the state, we believe that all the schools are in dire need of government attention. This will also afford the state the opportunity of taking an holistic approach in looking into tertiary education in the state.”
On security, the group condemned the security situation in the state, saying
“the recent report by an intelligence group (SMB intelligence) that rated Osun as the state with highest political violence case in 2022 is disturbing.
“It is even more alarming going by the trend of political violence cases like the disruption of campaign billboards, attack on political offices, among others that have been reported in the state just 15 days into 2023 and few weeks to the February general elections.
“We call on all political actors in the state to play be the rule and excuse violence. We equally charge the security agencies in the state to be up and doing. Osun had been rated as third most peaceful state in Nigeria before, descending from that ladder should be a cause of concern for every stakeholder.”
