Constituents Condemn Osun Lawmaker’s Petition, Call For Disciplinary Action

A group of young individuals from Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State, Oriade Vanguard Group, has condemned Hon. Kanmi Ajibola, the representative of Oriade State Constituency in the State House of Assembly for his petition against three members of his Constituency over criminal defamation.

Osun Defender reports that Hon. Ajibola had yesterday filed a complaint against three individuals: Sodiq Lawal Chocomilo, Tunde Omole, and Ogunsanya Olasunkanmi.

According to a statement from Sodiq Lawal, who is one of the petitioned individuals, this action by Ajibola comes after a group, Oris Solidarity Forum publicly criticized the lawmaker for his alleged underperformance.

The Oris Solidarity Forum had in June 2024 declared a three-day fasting and prayer session, urging constituents to pray for Ajibola due to his perceived neglect of their needs.

The group, in a statement signed by one of its leaders, Sodiq Lawal highlighted a year of what they described as a lack of engagement from Ajibola and criticized his sole public contribution as changing the state’s slogan and logo, which they argued had no tangible benefits for the constituency.

However, while reacting to the petition filed by Hon. Ajibola against the three individuals, Oriade Vanguard Group called on the Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, to refer Hon. Ajibola to the House Disciplinary Committee for a thorough investigation.

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According to the statement, “The Oriade Vanguard Group wishes to express our profound disappointment and strong condemnation of the actions of Hon. Kanmi Ajibola, the elected representative of Oriade State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly.

“His recent behavior, following our group’s constructive criticism of his poor performance, reflects an alarming abuse of office and a disregard for the principles of democratic representation and freedom of speech.

“As a community-focused group, we initially called for a peaceful, three-day fasting and prayer session aimed at invoking divine intervention for Hon. Ajibola’s improved leadership, after numerous instances of underperformance became too glaring to ignore.

“This was a call from concerned citizens who desire to see better representation, meaningful development, and stronger leadership for Oriade. Our intention was clear: to push for positive change, holding him accountable to the people who elected him.

“Rather than engaging with these concerns or reflecting on his leadership, Hon. Ajibola responded in a manner unbefitting of his office. He chose to file a petition against three of our members; Sodiq Lawal Chocomilo, an investigative journalist with Within Nigeria, alongside two other prominent members of our group, Tunde Omole and Ogunsaya Olasunkanmi. This is nothing short of a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence voices that dare to hold him accountable.

“It is alarming that an elected official, entrusted with the mandate of representing and defending the interests of the people, would resort to such measures to protect his personal image rather than address the underlying issues.

“Kanmi Ajibola’s actions raise serious questions about his suitability for the office he holds. This abuse of office not only reflects poorly on his leadership but also sets a dangerous precedent for how political officeholders might deal with criticism in Osun State. If left unchecked, this behavior could encourage other officials to misuse their powers, threatening the very foundation of our democracy and the fundamental rights of free speech, criticism, and accountability.

“We are therefore calling on the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly to immediately refer Hon. Kanmi Ajibola to the House Disciplinary Committee for thorough investigation. The Assembly must demonstrate its commitment to upholding the integrity of public office and protecting the democratic rights of citizens. Hon. Ajibola’s actions, if left unaddressed, will erode the trust and respect citizens have in the Assembly and in the democratic process as a whole.

“The Oriade Vanguard Group emphasizes that this is not just about protecting our members, but about standing up for the people of Oriade who deserve leadership that is transparent, responsive, and accountable. We have always advocated for a system where leaders are held to high standards of performance and service. No one, especially an elected official, should be above scrutiny or exempt from the consequences of their actions.

“We urge the Speaker and the entire Osun State House of Assembly to act decisively in this matter. The House must show that it stands with the people, not with those who attempt to stifle their voices. Disciplinary action must be taken against Hon. Ajibola to send a clear message that the misuse of power and office for personal vendettas will not be tolerated.

“The Oriade Vanguard Group remains committed to ensuring that Oriade gets the quality leadership it deserves. We will continue to stand as advocates for progress, justice, and the protection of democratic values. The actions of Hon. Kanmi Ajibola will not deter us from our mission to see a better, stronger Oriade.”