By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has accused the Federal Government of deploying state institutions to intimidate the Osun State Government and the opposition ahead of next week’s governorship election, describing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent directive to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a belated response to mounting public pressure.
In a statement jointly signed by Minority Leader Hon. Fredrick Agbedi and Caucus Spokesman Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, the lawmakers argued that the President’s order directing the EFCC to vacate the court order freezing Osun State’s accounts exposed contradictions within the administration over the legality of the commission’s actions.
The caucus noted that while the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, reportedly stated on national television that the freezing of the state’s accounts was carried out without a valid court order, the President later directed the anti-graft agency to return to court to vacate the same order.
The lawmakers said the conflicting positions raised serious questions about the government’s handling of the matter and suggested a lack of coordination within the administration.
They also alleged that senior presidential aides initially defended the EFCC’s action before the President reversed course, insisting that the directive came only after widespread public outrage.
According to the Minority Caucus, the account freeze is only one of several actions allegedly taken against the Osun State Government in recent months. The lawmakers accused the Federal Government of withholding statutory allocations meant for local governments in the state, describing the move as an attempt to cripple governance at the grassroots ahead of the election.
They further alleged that security agencies had failed to act decisively against violence allegedly involving members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while condemning what they described as the arrest and detention of senior Osun government officials on flimsy allegations.
The caucus also criticised the conduct of the Osun State Commissioner of Police and rejected allegations made after the Inspector-General of Police’s visit to the state that the government was harbouring hoodlums within Government House.
Warning against what it described as the misuse of federal institutions for political purposes, the lawmakers said the people of Osun must be allowed to vote freely without intimidation, coercion or interference.
They called on civil society organisations, election observers and the international community to closely monitor the governorship election and hold all relevant authorities accountable for ensuring a peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process.
The Minority Caucus maintained that democracy would only be strengthened if Osun voters are allowed to freely determine their next governor without fear or undue influence.
