OSOGBO, June 27, 2025 – In a scathing press conference titled the “State of the State Address,” The Osun Masterminds, a coalition of civil society organizations, has raised alarm over the deteriorating state of governance in Osun State and Nigeria. Delivered by Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, Executive Director, the address condemned the Osun State Government’s handling of local government administration, the escalating national insecurity, and the abandonment of governance for political maneuvering ahead of the 2026 elections.
Local Government Crisis: A Defiance of Rule of Law
The coalition decried the ongoing turmoil in Osun’s local government administration, sparked by the February 10, 2025, Appeal Court judgment widely interpreted as reinstating Local Government Chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2022. The group expressed dismay at the Osun State Government’s refusal to honor the court’s ruling and the Attorney-General of the Federation’s interpretation, which they described as binding.
The disregard for legal pronouncements has led to violence, loss of lives, and the abandonment of local government secretariats by employees. The Osun Masterminds questioned why the state government, led by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is unwilling to work with APC-elected chairmen, emphasizing the need for unity across political divides. They urged the Federal Government to ensure local government funds are released to legally recognized chairmen to foster grassroots development.
National Security: A Call for Overhaul
On the national front, the coalition condemned the worsening insecurity across Nigeria, particularly in the North-Central region, describing it as “bigger than the capacity of our current security architecture.” They called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently rework the nation’s security framework, remove incompetent personnel, and prioritize the safety of Nigerians over political ambitions. “Securing Nigeria is more important than any re-election bid,” Prof. Oyedokun-Alli declared, warning that failure to act could lead to the country’s disintegration.
Governance Sidelined for Politics
The Osun Masterminds expressed disappointment over the state government’s shift from governance to politicking. They criticized government functionaries for prioritizing 2026 election campaigns over public service, leaving citizens to bear the brunt of neglect. The coalition demanded that governance remain the focus until the administration’s term ends, regardless of electoral outcomes.
Revival of Technical Colleges and Teacher Recruitment
The group welcomed the state’s plan to resuscitate Government Technical Colleges to address the skill acquisition gap among Osun’s youth but noted a lack of visible progress. They urged the government to go beyond rhetoric by renovating facilities, boosting enrollment, updating curricula, and rebranding the colleges to attract young people. Additionally, they called for transparency and urgency in the teacher recruitment process, which has dragged on since February 2023, contrasting Osun’s delays with faster progress in Oyo and Ondo States.
A Call to Action
In closing, The Osun Masterminds urged both the state and federal governments to prioritize governance over propaganda as the 2026 gubernatorial and 2027 general elections approach. “The real needs of the people must take precedence over mere survival,” Prof. Oyedokun-Alli emphasized, calling for a renewed commitment to the rule of law, security, and public welfare.
