The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance (CCSOGG) vehemently condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the reckless and treasonable statement credited to Mr. Timothy Owoeye, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, wherein he described the sitting Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke, as a mere “caretaker Governor” of government.
This was contained in a statement released by the group, and signed by the Group secretary Comrade Lekan Johnson on Monday in Osogbo, the state capital.
According to the group, “This statement is not only a grave insult to the Office of the Governor of Osun State, but also a direct affront to the will of the good people of Osun State, who overwhelmingly elected Governor Adeleke through a credible, free, and fair democratic process. To suggest that a democratically elected Governor is a “caretaker Governor” is not just an act of gross political irresponsibility; it amounts to a treasonable offense under Nigerian law.
“We sympathize with Mr. Owoeye, who, by all indications, appears to be suffering from the trauma of electoral defeat and the subsequent loss of political relevance. While we understand the bitterness that often accompanies political failure, we will not, as a Coalition, tolerate an attempt to desecrate our democratic institutions through such dangerous and subversive rhetoric.” The group emphasized
Thr group, also noted that Governor Ademola Adeleke is not only the constitutionally recognized Chief Executive Officer of Osun State, but he also remains today one of the most popular and widely accepted Governors in Nigeria.
“His daily rising popularity is not accidental, it is the result of visible, people-oriented, and unprecedented achievements in office. His administration has brought radical development across Osun State, including the very community where Mr. Owoeye hails from, which had long suffered abandonment until Governor Adeleke’s transformative leadership brought it back to life.
“It is clear that the success of Governor Adeleke has unsettled Mr. Owoeye and his co-travelers, whose time in office was marked by mediocrity and stagnation. But this should not be an excuse to incite public disaffection, or to recklessly undermine the office of a sitting Governor through unlawful and inflammatory statements.”
The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance hereby calls on relevant security agencies to urgently invite Mr. Timothy Owoeye for questioning and to compel him to retract his seditious statement without delay. Treasonable utterances of this nature must not be allowed to take root in our political space. Democracy must be protected from reckless elements who seek to destroy it with words that border on criminality.
“We affirm, without equivocation, that Senator Ademola Adeleke remains the indisputable choice of the people of Osun State. His government enjoys overwhelming support, and the people of Osun are daily witnesses to his impactful and inclusive governance.
“The Coalition remains committed to the defense of Nigeria’s democracy, and we shall not hesitate to act, within the bounds of the law, to call out and confront anyone who attempts to undermine it.
