"Exposed the Myth of EFCC’s Independence" – Atiku and Opposition Blast Tinubu Over Osun Account Directive as Security Tightens in Osogbo
Ayekooto Media
The political fallout from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent intervention in the financial affairs of Osun State has escalated into a full-blown national controversy. Just 24 hours after the President directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to unfreeze the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, heavy-hitting opposition figures have fiercely criticized the move.
While the Osun State Government—led by Governor Ademola Adeleke—breathed a sigh of relief, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and key opposition parties have seized the moment to question the institutional integrity of the nation's premier anti-graft agency.
Atiku Abubakar’s Scathing Reaction
In a strongly worded statement released early Friday morning, former Vice President and PDP stalwart, Atiku Abubakar, condemned the mechanics of the President's intervention. While Atiku acknowledged that freezing a state's account days before an election is "an act of administrative sabotage," he took issue with the President's ability to simply "order" the EFCC to reverse a court-sanctioned freeze.
"What we have witnessed in the last 48 hours has finally exposed the myth of the EFCC's independence," Atiku’s statement read. "If a President can unilaterally order an independent anti-graft agency to vacate a court order because of political expediency, it confirms our long-held fear that the commission is merely an extension of the Presidential villa, used to intimidate or pacify at the whim of the executive."
ADC and Civil Society Weigh In
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also issued a swift reaction, cautioning that the President’s intervention, though seemingly democratic on the surface, sets a dangerous constitutional precedent.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) tracking the August 15 Osun Gubernatorial Election are divided. While some praised Tinubu for preventing the total paralysis of state logistics ahead of the polls, others demanded that the EFCC provide total transparency regarding the initial ₦11 billion fraud allegations that led to the freeze.
Security Beefed Up Ahead of Elections and Osun-Osogbo Festival
Amidst the fierce political rhetoric, the physical atmosphere in Osogbo is incredibly tense. The brewing political storm has perfectly collided with the historic Osun-Osogbo Festival, drawing massive crowds of tourists, traditionalists, and political foot soldiers into the state capital.
To prevent any breakdown of law and order, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered a massive deployment of tactical units to Osun State.
Strategic Checkpoints: Heavily armed mobile police officers and DSS operatives have mounted strategic checkpoints at all major entry points into Osogbo, Ilesa, and Ede.
Festival Security: Specific cordons have been established around the Osun-Osogbo sacred grove to ensure that political thugs do not hijack the cultural celebration.
As the August 15 election draws closer, the unfreezing of the state’s accounts has undoubtedly reshaped the battleground, but it has also triggered a fierce national debate about executive overreach and institutional independence in Nigeria.
David Alani Ige (The Scribe)
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Ayekooto Media
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David Alani Ige (The Scribe)
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Ayekooto MediaDavid Alani Ige is a seasoned journalist, strategic analyst, and the visionary publisher of Ayekooto Media. With a relentless commitment to archiving Nigeria's political realities and delivering the unvarnished truth, he has built a formidable platform for deep-dive reportage and editorial excellence. He is widely known by his readers and peers as "The Scribe".


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