The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has fired back at Governor Ademola Adeleke, demanding that he apologise to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, over what it described as false accusations surrounding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) restriction of the state government’s accounts.
The APC’s demand came after President Tinubu ordered the EFCC to return to court and vacate the order restricting the accounts of the Osun State Government, saying the timing of the action could create the impression that the Federal Government was interfering in the state’s forthcoming governorship election.
Tinubu had said he was embarrassed, not by the EFCC’s exercise of its statutory powers, but by the timing of the action, which he noted could give political interpretations to the anti-graft agency’s move.
But Osun APC said the President’s intervention should not be interpreted as an exoneration of Adeleke or his administration from the allegations being investigated by the EFCC.
In a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, on Thursday, the APC declared that Adeleke and his political allies owed Tinubu and Oyetola an apology for allegedly accusing them and the APC of using the EFCC to frustrate the governor ahead of the election.
The party said Tinubu’s statement only addressed the timing of the EFCC action and not the substance of the allegations being investigated.
“The confused and frustrated Governor Ademola Adeleke and his misdirected political co-travellers must apologise to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister Gboyega Oyetola for wrongfully accusing them and the All Progressives Congress of setting the anti-graft agency against the Accord Party and Governor Adeleke,” the statement said.
The APC insisted that the President did not clear the Osun State Government of alleged involvement in the EFCC investigation.
According to the party, Tinubu merely expressed concern that the timing of the account restriction, coming close to the governorship election, could create room for political interpretations.
The APC said the development should serve as a lesson to Adeleke and members of his political camp, urging them to exercise greater restraint before making public accusations against political opponents.
It added that there was no justification for what it described as “needless gibberish” directed at Tinubu, Oyetola and other APC leaders and members in Osun State.
The party also praised Tinubu’s intervention, describing it as evidence of his “large-heartedness” and disposition as a father of the nation.
But the APC immediately turned the heat back on Adeleke, challenging him to reciprocate the President’s gesture by withdrawing what it called political charges against the newly sworn-in executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
“We hope Governor Adeleke will learn from President Tinubu’s large-heartedness by withdrawing the political charges against the newly sworn-in executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers. After all, one good turn deserves another,” the statement added.
HOW THE ROW STARTED
The political storm erupted after the EFCC obtained a court order restricting access to the Osun State Government’s accounts as part of an investigation into alleged financial infractions involving the state administration.
The action triggered a furious political reaction, with the Adeleke administration and its allies raising concerns over the timing of the EFCC intervention, particularly with the governorship election drawing closer.
The controversy intensified when the EFCC maintained that its action was within its statutory powers and linked to an ongoing investigation.
Tinubu, however, intervened after the issue generated widespread political controversy, directing the anti-graft agency to return to court and vacate the restriction.
The President stressed that federal institutions must be allowed to perform their constitutional and statutory duties but expressed concern that the timing of the EFCC action could create the impression of political interference.
The latest salvo from the Osun APC has now opened another front in the escalating political battle, with the party insisting that the President’s intervention should not be mistaken for a declaration that the EFCC allegations against the Adeleke administration were unfounded.
