The meeting of the National Council for Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy earlier scheduled to be held in Osun State from February 25 to 27, 2025 has been postponed.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris announced the postponement, citing the heightened political tensions due to the crisis that erupted recently over local government leadership across the state.
Idris announced the shift via an internal memo titled ‘Urgent Action Against Hosting of National Council for Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy from 24-27 February 2025, in Osun State’, addressed to State Commissioners, Directors of MDAs, Heads of Departments/Units, and key stakeholders.
“With reference to the above, I wish to bring to your notice the current tense situation in Osun State stemmed from political unrest and uproar in view of the ongoing local government elections”, the memo partly read.
The Ministry further directed all concerned parties to take note of the change in schedule, while assuring that a new date for the meeting would be announced in due course.
“From the foregoing, I am directed by the Hon. Minister to inform you that the upcoming Council Meeting scheduled to hold in Osun State from 25 – 27 February 2025 has been postponed to a later date that will be duly communicated. Any inconvenience(s) caused is highly regretted, please”, the memo further stated.
Recipients of the circular were also encouraged to ensure its wide dissemination to all relevant stakeholders.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) cleared all 30 chairmanship seats as well as 332 councillorship positions in all local government areas in the Saturday, February 22 local government elections held in the state.
Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, Hashim Abioye, announced the victories of the elected local government officials at a press conference on Saturday in Osogbo.
LEADERSHIP recalls that political functionaries elected in 2022 during the reign of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola are laying claim to the ruling of an Appeal Court of February 10, 2025 to take over some local government areas.
Although, the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke inaugurated the elected local government chairpersons on Sunday, he was quick to direct them to steer clear of the council secretariats pending the resolution of the current impasse through judicial process.
Governor Adeleke maintained that the directive was to prevent confrontation and clashes that may plunge the state further into political crisis.
He however charged them to focus on good governance while warning against any attempt to forcibly occupy council secretariats.
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