The swinging of the pendulum on the matter of the Chief Judge (CJ) of Osun State appears to point to a house on fire.

The dramatis personae, on the Osun State Government (OSG) side appear to have been enjoying so much dribbling with their mastery of the pen that not a few were swayed and swayed again on the basis of stories they churned out.

The two principal perception executioners, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Osun State, Hon Kolapo Alimi, and Spokesperson to the State Governor, Olawale Rasheed, might have been enjoying dishing out stories and counter-stories, in a manner akin to skillful footballers passing the ball to one another after dribbling an opponent. The opponent on this case, happens to be the public.

However, what look to have torn the masquerade’s attire in the market-square turned out to be the firm position of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Osun State Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

The NBA only had to insist on constitutionality and due process, while the JUSUN had to troop out as ‘ordered’ by the ‘powers that be’.

On its part, the JUSUN opened its act by demonstrating at the court premises on Monday.

A popular adage has it that he who pays the piper dictates the tune. However, the JUSUN protests gave away a little more than desired, probably only to discerning eyes.

Prominent banners and placards displayed by the JUSUN protesters include, ‘Unlawful Suspension of Judiciary Staff Without Recourse to (the) Judicial Service Commission is Barbaric’, ‘We are Tired of Oppression and Stagnation’, and ‘Judiciary Staff Deserves Better’.

Watchers are wondering where to place these messages. How do the organisers of the protest want the public to interpret such messages?

Public perception has it that, either the JUSUN led by Gbenga Eludire came out in solidarity with the NBA, or to demonstrate support for the embattled Chief Justice (CJ) of Osun State, Hon Justice Adepele Ojo.

Recall that the NBA made its position known in a statement last Saturday, that the process of changing the CJ in Osun State had fallen short of constitutional standards and thus, would not acceptable to the bar.

National Publicity Secretary, NBA, Akorede Lawal, cited the constitutional principle of the separation of powers and the crucial independence of the judiciary, as informing their position.

He said, “The tenure of a judicial officer cannot and should not be subject to the mood of politicians.”

The embattled CJ, Justice Ojo has laid her complaints to the courts of the land.

The National Industrial Court, sitting in Ibadan has already given her a reprieve, through an injunction.

However, what transpired on Monday tends to indicate that the JUSUN was either infiltrated or not convinced on the job they were called out to do.

Interestingly, the faulty interpretation of the script by JUSUN was not just discernible to those who spoke to Biztellers, as the industrial union has on Wednesday had to take more drastic action to rectify what many considered their failed attempt on Monday.

In the instant, Eludire had to shut down the courts using his position as Chairman, JUSUN, Osun State by calling the workers on strike.

He cited unfriendly action by operatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), who he alleged fired teargas at protesting members of JUSUN.

He said, “Following the action of the police and the attitude of the Chief Judge, I, Comrade Gbenga Eludire, hereby ordered that workers in the sector should withdraw their service till further notice.”

The Spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State Chapter, Kola Olabisi told Biztellers that even the simplest of minds could discern that the Osun State JUSUN was piping the tune of politicians.

He admonished Eludire and his people to consider their place in history before lending themselves as pliable tools in the hands of the political class.

Olabisi considered it, “a pity that some people under the guise of unionism could allow themselves to be used by some disgruntled and desperate politicians.

“One does not need to be a soothsayer to observe and conclude that the JUSUN protest at the State High Court was sponsored and politically motivated.”

Not seeing any need for the involvement of the JUSUN in the crisis, Olabisi pointed out that, “The protest wasn’t necessary as it was needless and diversionary. Discerning minds would probe the timing of the said protest by the Osun JUSUN.

“What could have been the monetary attraction for some unionists to have deliberately mortgaged their future for an ill-motivated political errand?”

He expressed concern at the timing of JUSUN’s involvement and warned that posterity would hold them accountable.

“Why now? We write history every day and the right-thinking members of the society are curiously watching,” Olabisi noted.

Which Way Forward?

A statement from Hon Alimi had clearly pointed the way the OSG was going on the matter, by making strong recommendations while referring the matter to the appropriate authorities.

He wrote, “Governor Adeleke has only duly notified the Chief Justice as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in writing about the resolutions of the House of Assembly following a series of petitions made against the sitting Chief Judge of Osun State.

“In the communication, Mr Governor intimated the CJN of the recommendation of the House that the Chief Judge should step aside and included his own submission for an acting appointment to fill the vacuum while the NJC reviews and decides on the petition.

“To that end, the Governor in the same letter recommended to the CJN, the appointment of the most senior judicial officer, Hon. Justice Olayinka David Afolabi for thorough consideration and further processing by the same NJC through the CJN.”

Analysts can discern between the OSG referring the matter to the NJC and CJN as required by law, and recommending Justice Afolabi “for thorough consideration and further processing by the same NJC through the CJN”.

This is why the restiveness in the JUSUN, Osun Chapter, has set tongues wagging, with public perception holding that it is probably with a view to swaying the NJC and CJN.

What would seem good for the public is a restoration of the status quo and constitutional resolution of the matter.

However, the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is of the view that the dramatics surrounding the office of the state’s CJ “ridicules Osun among the comity of states”.

The view of the Osun APC, expressed by its chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, is that it “has further exposed Gov Adeleke, his co-travellers and the lawmakers as a bundle of entities abundantly lacking what it takes to increase the fortune and prosperity of the state”.

The state’s main opposition party does not heap blames on the governor alone, voicing the belief that those acting in concert with him ought to have guide him right on this.

“If Governor Adeleke is uninformed about the constitution,” it would have been expected that “those who are parading themselves as lawmakers would have guided the accidental governor aright,” Lawal maintained.

On his part, Olabisi would want the actors to allow the NJC and CJN to play their constitutionally assigned roles on the mater.

On how to resolve the matter, Olabisi responded, “It’s simple. The state House of Assembly and Governor Adeleke should stop usurping the statutory functions of the National Judicial Council on the issue of the bungled illegal sack of the Osun CJ.”

It is left to be seen if the actors would heed this advice or not.