Adeleke had issued six executive orders overturning decisions made by his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, including worker appointments and traditional ruler installation.
He also ordered the immediate suspension of the Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Segun Oladitan, and six members of the Commission.
The governor ordered the withdrawal of the certificate of return of local council chairmen elected under the APC in the October 15 local government elections.
Adeleke also returned the ‘Osun State’ appellation, reversed the state motto to ‘State of Livingspring’, froze the state government’s accounts, and reversed the appointment of 30 permanent secretaries.
In response to the development, the APC National Vice Chairman (South-West), Isaac Kekemeke, condemned Adeleke for his actions, emphasising that the new governor should not be overly excited.
Kekemeke said in a statement on Monday that Oyetola’s tenure did not end with the new governor’s election victory on July 17, 2022, but that the former governor was still in power until November 26, 2022.
As a result, the APC chieftain advised Adeleke to exercise authority with restraint in order to avoid endless litigation and distractions, noting that government is a continuum.
He said, “Governor Adeleke shouldn’t be too excited; government is a continuum and is bound by contractual relationships duly entered into by competent authorities.
‘’One thing he, Adeleke has probably and sadly overlooked is that Oyetola’s administration did not end with the announcement of his victory by the Independent National Electoral commission.
“Oyetola and no other person was still governor between July 17th, and November 26th, 2022. The right to continuously review government programmes and activities must be exercised objectively and with sobriety; as to do otherwise will be courting distractions through endless litigation and agitation.
‘’He (Adeleke) was governor-elect between that period, while Oyetola remained governor with unhindered powers to exercise the functions of that office as he deems fit, albeit legally.”
Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly has rejected the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke’s decision to rename the state from “State of Osun” to “Osun State.”
Lawmakers in the House noted that the state anthem, crest, and flag were an enactment of a law signed on December 18, 2012, and thus no one can change it.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor also changed the name of the state from ‘The State of the Virtues’ to ‘The State of the Living Spring.’
Adeleke, who had previously warned the state’s former governor, Gboyega Oyetola, not to make appointments in the state, has also reversed all appointments effective from July 7, 2022.
The House through the Chairman of House Committee on Media and Publicity, Moshood Kunle Akande, in a statement wrote, “The State of Osun House of Assembly having reviewed the inaugural speech of the Governor and the activities of the inauguration hereby resolves as follows;
“The usage of the State Anthem, Crest and Flag is an enactment of the law and as such, its usage is a matter of law and not choice.
“The enactment “State of Osun Anthem, Crest and Flag Law, 2012” assented to on December 18, 2012, contained in Schedule 1, II, III, IV and V, which carefully details every component of this law is not in ambiguity.
“Schedule I is the State Anthem, Schedule II has to do with the State Crest, and Schedule III is the symbolic significance of the elements in the Flag.
“Lastly, while we are aware of a court judgment in effect.”
The legislators added that the state will continue to be described as the “State of Osun” and “Ipinle Omulabi” (State of the Virtuous).
