The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alerted the police and other statutory security services in the state to be wary of a wild protest planned by the leadership of the state chapter of the Joint Labour Movement under the directive of (Dr) Christopher A. Arapasopo, the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC); Comrade Bimbo Fasaasi, the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress(TUC) and Comrade Lekan Adediran, the state chairman of the Joint Public Service negotiating Council(JPSNC).
It was gathered that the Joint Labour Movement in the state has instructed the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to mobilize twenty staff per local government to embark on destructive protest to the United Bank for Africa (UBA) branches in Osogbo on Tuesday, 24th of March, 2026.
Part of the plots is to picket the bank, kidnap recalcitrant workers and disrupt commercial activities in the branches of the bank.
It was discovered that the planned Joint Labour Movement protest to the UBA branches in Osogbo, the state capital, was the result of a meeting that the leadership of the labour held with some top political functionaries in the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke few days ago.
Information also has it that the state government which is the facilitator and sponsor of the destructive protest to the UBA branches in Osogbo has provided the wherewithal like logistics for the planned protest.
It would be recalled that the state chapter of the NULGE embarked on a fruitless 11-month abandonment of work last year with the sole motive to sympathise with Governor Adeleke over his failure to control the administration of the local governments across the state.
It is worrisome and disheartening that the leadership of the Osun State Joint Labour Movement could make itself readily available as a willing tool in the hands of desperate politicians.
There’s no plausible reason under the sun why the Joint Labour Movement should continue to make itself a laughing stock in the estimation of the right-thinking members of the society by even contemplating any protest over the autonomy granted the local government councils nationwide by the Supreme Court judgement.
It would do the labour union a lot of good if its leadership can put on their thinking cap and prioritise the actions and inactions that would promote peace in the state.
One wonders the quality of the legal advice being given to the Osun State Joint Labour Movement that it is impossible for them to know that the issues forming the basis of their proposed action, particularly regarding to the operation of local government accounts and the determination of rightful signatories are currently the subject of multiple pending proceedings before competent courts of law in this country.
One does not need to be grounded in law to know that the planned picketing of the UBA by the Osun State Joint Labour Movement constitutes an act of contempt of court and interference with the judicial process as it risks exerting undue pressure on issues that are squarely within the purview of the judiciary for determination.
We are cautioning the Osun State Joint Labour Movement to desist from allowing itself to be used as agents of destruction and breach of the peace and breakdown of law and order.
We have painstakingly observed that only few people who are surreptitiously benefitting from the incompetence and political naivety of the moribund Adeleke-led state government that are behind this ruse being paraded as unholy solidarity with the state government’s refusal to rule by the law.
We make bold to say that this planned thoughtless protest is an indication of yet another frustration sterned from deliberate ignorance of the state government over what is lawful and what is merely a political propaganda.
Operation of the local government councils by the reinstated APC chairmen and councillors is premised on rule of law supported by multiple decisions of the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court but the understanding of which Governor Ademola government does not have.
It is highly surprising that a sitting governor will be inciting and condoning conducts likely to cause breach of peace just for political lies.
The great and good members of the unions are commended for not willingly turning up for such a shameful show as discreet investigation revealed as they are the real professional and seasoned civil servants and are always commended for such.
We are, as a party, imploring the police and their sister security agencies in the state to be on standby with a view to making a scape goat out of any disgruntled elements who are planning to disturb the public peace in the state.
Parents and guardians should also warn their children and wards to desist from being made willing tools in the hands of the Osun State Joint Labour Movement whose motive is to needlessly disturb the public peace in the state.
For how long would the Osun State Joint Labour Movement continue to operate as an extension of the Accord Party which is the new abode of Governor Adeleke after his efforts to join our party, APC, in the state were rebuffed?
The security services should know where to beam their searchlight in the event of breakdown of law and order as a result of the thoughtless joint labour protest.
e-SIGNED:
Mogaji KOLA OLABISI, Osun State APC Director of Media and Information.