From John Dike, Osogbo

Osun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke, to with a matter of urgency recall all sacked Teachers and Health workers in the state back to work.

The Party said recalling the sacked workers will be a reaffirmation that Adeleke’s administration will be fair to all irrespective of their political differences.

Governor Adeleke, during a thank-you-visit to two Osun royal fathers, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olaonipekun (Larooye II) and the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal (Laminisa 1), on Thursday, after the judgement of the Supreme Court had pledged to be fair to all during his tenure.

The governor said: “I have forgiven all those who might have offended me during the struggle to assume the leadership of the state. I am now a governor for all. For those who didn’t vote for me, I have no grudge against them.

“The goal now is how to move Osun forward. We have the authority and power now, we will use it justly for the progress of this state and welfare of the people.”

The state acting chairman of the APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, in Osogbo yesterday, hinted that the pledge of Adeleke to be fair to all is commendable if it is backed up with the sincerest of purpose.

Lawal disclosed that it is Adeleke’s subsequent actions and inactions that would be a worthy parameter to know the level of importance that the governor attaches to his pledge for fairness to all and sundry.

The acting APC chairman stated that the political will of Adeleke to reverse some of his hasty decisions against the opposition party and members and supporters through his numerous executive orders borne out of victimisation, oppression and vindictiveness during his inauguration would go a long way in measuring the genuiness and seriousness of his post-Supreme Court’s verdict pledge.

Lawal hinted that it is one thing to promise to do something, while it is another thing to do the opposite.

The state APC acting chairman stated that before it could be taken that Adeleke did not make his intended peace parley in vain and that such promises were made because he was intoxicated by the euphoria of his victory at the Supreme Court, he must instantly act same and not merely engaging in talking.

“For us to know the seriousness of the governor with his promises to use his governorship justly, he must redress with dispatch the issue of the traditional rulers that he humiliated with one of his executive orders to keep away from their palaces henceforth.

“It is worthwhile to remind Governor Adeleke that he has no business with the intervention into the obaship institution in the state if he intends to make a success in his administration. He can take a cue from the past administrations in the state in this regard.

“The issue of the 1,500 teachers that were employed by his predecessor but laid off by him on the basis of victimisation when it is obvious that the state is faced with the dearth of teachers at both primary and secondary school levels should be urgently attended to.

“The malicious sack of the health workers employed by the Oyetola-led administration should form a priority attention to his government if truly he intends to move Osun state forward.

“Whatever name the former O’YES programme is called is not our business but the 20,000 disengaged workforce of the programme must be reabsorbed to justify concentration on the welfarism of the people of the state regardless of their political persuasions.

“For us to further have an unshaken confidence in his promised fair dealing with all and sundry, Governor Adeleke should fast track the payment of the November 2022 salaries and leave allowances of the political functionaries that worked till the end with former Governor Oyetola as there is no justifiable reason for punishing those who served their state meritoriously.

“It becomes expedient for Adeleke to pay the November 2022 salaries of the political functionaries that worked under ex-Governor Oyetola because the said salaries had been appropriated before the exit of the former governor,” Lawal stated.