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Tag: ADELEKE

  • Ex-governor’s aides knock Adeleke

    Ex-governor’s aides knock Adeleke

    Former commissioners and special advisers, who served under ex-Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola, yesterday dismissed allegations of financial misconduct levelled against their former principal by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

    The Director of Media and Information for All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Kola Olabisi, alongside former officials including Alhaji Abdul Hakeem, Dr. Festus Oyebade, Leke Ogunsola, Remi Omowaye, Prof. Olamiju Sijiola and former Commissioner for Information Mrs. Funke Egbemode faulted the claims made by the Osun State Government.

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    The former aides said Oyetola adhered to legal and procedural requirements in managing the funds.

  • Alleged financial malpractice: Oyetola’s aides knock Gov Adeleke

    Alleged financial malpractice: Oyetola’s aides knock Gov Adeleke

    Former commissioners and special advisers who served under ex-Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola have dismissed allegations of financial misconduct leveled against him by the current governor, Ademola Adeleke.

    Governor Adeleke, in a petition filed before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in March 2025, accused Oyetola—now Minister of Blue Economy—of misappropriating a $20 million World Bank health grant. 

    The petition also alleged money laundering, claiming the funds were improperly allocated for renovating 320 primary health centers in Osun State, violating the Public Procurement Act.

    According to the petition, Oyetola, as chair of a special Health Intervention Committee, oversaw the disbursement of the funds under questionable circumstances.

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    Reacting to the allegations, the Director of Media and Information for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Hon. Kola Olabisi, along with former officials—including Alhaji Abdul Hakeem, Dr. Festus Oyebade, Hon. Leke Ogunsola, Hon. Remi Omowaye, Prof. Olamiju Sijiola, and former Commissioner for Information Mrs. Funke Egbemode—dismissed the claims made by the Osun State Government.

    Speaking on their behalf in Abuja, Olabisi stated that no member of Oyetola’s cabinet benefited from the World Bank grant.

    “The Save One Million Lives (SOML) project is a World Bank initiative aimed at improving maternal and child health services. The funds received by Osun State were closely monitored by the donor. Not only were they used for improving healthcare, but all contracts followed due procurement processes,” Olabisi stated.

    He challenged the Osun government to provide evidence by publishing the names of contractors and contract award dates, dismissing the allegations as politically motivated.

    The former aides maintained that Oyetola adhered to all legal and procedural requirements in managing the funds.

    “The claim that procurement rules were flouted is misleading. Contracts were awarded in line with the Osun State Public Procurement Law. This is nothing but a political witch-hunt against Oyetola,” Olabisi added.

    Addressing the money laundering claims against the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Olabisi described the accusations as unproven.

    He said: “If a civil servant was withdrawing N100 million daily, as claimed, where are the bank records to substantiate this? Was there an official audit by an independent agency? Allegations without forensic investigations should not be taken as facts.”

    He further clarified that the $20.467 million was converted into N6.26 billion and credited to the Osun State Government account domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), asserting that records at the CBN could confirm the transparency of the transactions.

    Olabisi said: “Governance should be about truth and due process, not political revenge. If there is proof of wrongdoing, take it to court. Otherwise, misleading the public for political gain is unacceptable. Oyetola’s leadership remains a model of accountability”.

  • APC slams Adeleke for misinforming Traditional Council

    APC slams Adeleke for misinforming Traditional Council

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has berated Governor Ademola Adeleke for misinforming the Traditional Council headed by Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, over the control of local governments.

    Governor Adeleke had earlier yesterday attended the meeting of Osun Traditional Council where he said the Appeal Court never reinstated APC local government executives, noting that the opposition was spreading fake news to cause mayhem.

    However, APC through its Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, in a statement accused Governor Adeleke of feeding the traditional rulers with lies in order to whip up unmerited sentiment for himself and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Olabisi said the hallmark of Adeleke’s administration had been ceaseless lies, which he even brought before royal fathers concerning the Court of Appeal reinstated local government chairmen and councillors.

    Read Also: Landlords, residents beg Adeleke for N750m compensation after demolition

    He said: “Governor Adeleke should allow the highly respected traditional rulers to have their rest, as it is when he is in trouble that he remembers that there are traditional rulers in the state, whereas, he has exposed some of them to ridicule and odium through his obnoxious executive orders at the onset of his administration.

    “It is an elementary principle of law that a lower court does not have the power either to challenge or overturn the decision of the superior court. The Court of Appeal adjudicated on the issue at stake on February 10 and the appeal against same lies at the Supreme Court.”

    He added: “We challenge Governor Adeleke and his cohorts to approach the Supreme Court if they are convinced that they have sufficient cause of action, instead of shopping for the procurement of judgments in some obscured High Courts in the state.”

  • Landlords, residents beg Adeleke for N750m compensation after demolition

    Landlords, residents beg Adeleke for N750m compensation after demolition

    The Justice for Landlord and Landladies Association, Osogbo, Osun State is begging Governor Ademola Adeleke to pay compensation the government promised after the demolition of properties for the dualisation of roads in the state capital.

    The expansion affected Orita Baba Onisekere-Ayetoro-Igbona-Olonkoro-Ajegunle-Old Garage-MDS and Orita Olaiya in the suburb of Osogbo Local Government Area and Olorunda.

    The group said they had lost 10 members due to the problems created by the demolition.

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    Moshood Oladejo, who spoke on behalf of the affected property owners, said their properties were valued at N750 million, noting that the government only released one cheque to them out of the six it promised since 2022. 

    “The N750million was scheduled for payment in six tranches. The state government released one cheque of N150million to us out of the six cheques in 2022 and after that we have not heard anything.

    “And with the situation of the country we all know how much they are selling cement, rods; everything has changed. We need the government to pay us on time.

    “We hereby appeal and ask for ‘Save our soul’ from our governor. Dr. Nurudeen Ademola Jackson Adeleke, Osun.to pay our compensation as the law stated.”

  • Landlord group, residents beg Adeleke for N750m compensation over demolition 

    Landlord group, residents beg Adeleke for N750m compensation over demolition 

    Landlords and residents of the Igbona area in Osogbo, Osun State, have appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to pay them due compensation after the state government demolished their properties for road dualization.

    The affected residents said the demolition was part of an expansion project converting roads from Olaiya Junction to Old Garage, Ayetoro, and Ikirun into dual carriageways—a project initiated during the administration of Rauf Aregbesola.

    Under the Justice for Landlords and Landladies Association, the group claimed they had lost ten members due to the hardships caused by the demolitions.

    Speaking on behalf of the affected property owners, Moshood Oladejo stated that the demolished properties were valued at N750 million, yet the state government had only issued one out of six promised compensation cheques since 2022.

    He further noted that the road dualization affected several areas, including Orita Baba Onisekere, Ayetoro, Igbona, Olonkoro, Ajegunle, Old Garage, MDS, and Orita Olaiya in Osogbo and Olorunda local government areas.

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    “The money, N750m was scheduled for payment in six tranches. The State government released one cheque of N150m to us out of the six cheques in 2022 and after that we have not heard anything till now. 

    “And with the situation of the country we all know how much they are selling cement, iron rod everything has charged. Please, we need government to pay us on time that it can useful for us. 

    “We hereby specifically appeal and ask for safe our soul from our governor. His Excellency Governor Dr. Nurudeen Ademola Jackson Adeleke, Osun state number one citizen. To pay our compensation as the law stated.”

  • Ifon-Ilobu communal clashes:  Adeleke relaxes curfew

    Ifon-Ilobu communal clashes:  Adeleke relaxes curfew

    • Movement now restricted from 10pm to 4am 

    Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has relaxed the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on the warring Ifon and Ilobu communities, following the gradual return of peace in the areas.

    The governor had imposed a curfew on the communities because of the incessant communal clashes that claimed lives and resulted in destruction of property.

    In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, yesterday, Governor Adeleke says the restriction of movement now commences between 10pm and 4 am daily, expressing satisfaction with the level of peace being experienced in the areas.

    “His Excellency, Governor Adeleke, has expressed happiness and satisfaction about the gradual return to peace in the embattled communities of Ifon and Ilobu over land disputes. Though not yet 100 per cent return to peace, Governor Adeleke, however, expressed conviction that it is just a matter of time for total peace to be attained in the communities.

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    “Accordingly, the governor has directed that the initial 7pm to 7am curfew imposed on the two communities by his administration in the wake of the crisis on January 16 be relaxed from the hitherto 12 hours to six hours daily, beginning from 10pm to 4am with effect from today, March 2, until total peace is seen and noted to have been returned.

    “Furthermore, Mr Governor has directed the contingent of all security personnel, including the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to continue to maintain 24-hour surveillance in the warring communities.

    “All stakeholders in the communities are further advised to cooperate with the state government to resolve the issues amicably.

    ‘’His Excellency urges all sons and daughters of the two communities, including their traditional rulers and other interested stakeholders, to use the holy month of Ramadan to pray for lasting peace and harmony.

    “Mr Governor equally renews his earlier appeal and warning that anyone or group of persons found or caught doing or masterminding any further breakdown of law and order to truncate the level of peace being gradually achieved in the two communities will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” the statement said.

  • Adeleke’s aide allegedly leads gunmen to Osun community, hacks chief, shoots six others

    Adeleke’s aide allegedly leads gunmen to Osun community, hacks chief, shoots six others

    • Gov orders investigation

    Resident of Egbedi community in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State are living in palpable fear after gunmen allegedly led by an aide of Governor Ademola Adeleke inflicted injury on a chief and son of the king, also shot six people over land tussle.

    This is just as Governor Adeleke frowned at the development and ordered an immediate probe into the circumstances.

    A viral video on Saturday, showed seven men armed with pump action threatening the community, the residents were screaming in Yoruba language saying ‘SSA ti e re, yin’—meaning, You this SSA, shoot us.

    The gun-wielding men were conveyed in a Sienna gold colour vehicle with inscription ‘Security Patrol (Local Matters), Osun State’.

    It was gathered that during the crisis, a traditional chief and the first son of the king were macheted while six others sustained gunshot wounds.

    Speaking with the leader of the community, Baale Shasha of Egbedi, Chief Yisa Akolapo explained that “Crisis started on Wednesday, as a Senior Special Assistant to Adeleke led others to Egbedi.

    “When Ajiroba of Egbedi, Chief Yisa Abayomi and the prince, Nurudeen Abioye who were sent by the king approached them, they were hacked in their heads, the scene made the residents flee. Police rescued them and took them to hospital.”

    He added: “On Thursday, six others were again shot when the gunmen invaded the community, the leader,  who is SSA to Adeleke, was shouting that he was acting on Governor’s authority.

    ”All this issue is connected to land dispute, they are not from our community, they are selling our land, which we resisted, we took them to court. We are pleading with the government, and we have been reporting them to the police station because we don’t want to resort to self-help.”

    Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed in a statement assured Egbedi community of adequate security of lives and property.

    He said: “The attention of His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke has been drawn to a viral video and subsequent reported attacks on the town of Egbedi.

    Read Also: Osun LG poll, Adeleke and OSIEC

    “The Commissioner for Local Government affairs and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters have been directed to investigate the incident and ensure restoration of peace in the area as urgently as possible.”

    “We should avoid politicising every incident. I have no gun wielding appointee. I didn’t send anybody to foment communal crisis. We will get to the root of the matter.”

  • Osun LG poll, Adeleke and OSIEC

    Osun LG poll, Adeleke and OSIEC

    As predicted, the controversial Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Hashim Abioye, announced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates as winners of last week’s Osun State local government poll. Though Mr Abioye claimed that 18 political parties contested the poll, and that the PDP won all 30 chairmanship seats and 332 councillor seats, the reality is that the PDP largely contested against itself. The leading opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), boycotted the poll, citing the February 10 Court of Appeal judgement which validated the 2022 LG elections won by the APC. In the eyes of the opposition, there was no vacancy in the LGs, and the tenure of its elected LG officials would not end until October.

    In January 2024, the APC had taken Governor Ademola Adeleke to court for appointing Mr Abioye, alleged to be a PDP card-carrying member, as OSIEC chairman. Though the respondent claimed to have resigned his appointment last year, the complainants insisted he was still a PDP member in November 2023 when he was appointed. He was until his appointment the governor’s special adviser on legal matters. He did not resign his party membership until a few months ago. But while the case was still meandering its way through the judicial mill, the LG election was conducted against all legal advice and against the February Court of Appeal judgement. It is curious that commentators split generally across partisan lines in drawing their conclusions based on their partisan preferences. Thus, haters of the APC insist the 2022 elected LG officials were impostors, and their ‘forceful’ takeover of the LG secretariats undemocratic. On the other hand, loathers of Mr Adeleke and his party also insist the governor is a serial abuser of constitutional rule.

    Mr Adeleke has preemptively asked the ‘newly elected’ LG officials not to assume duty at the LG secretariats. He knows that there is no way he can get the law enforcement agencies to defend or protect the new chairmen when in the eyes of the law and according to the legal advice of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) no vacancies exist at the LGs. It is not certain whether the LGs have delinked their accounts from that of the state, whether, as the law provides, they have really become self-accounting. If they are yet to finalise that process, and if the federal government is still timid at withholding the funds of governors playing chicaneries with LGs, the Osun APC LG officials will have taken over the LG secretariats in vain. Worse, the illegal LG elections held last week and overwhelmingly ‘won’ by the PDP would stand by default. The federal government developed cold feet in the Rivers State LG poll before the Supreme Court restored sanity late last week; it would be a disaster and a setback for democracy to feign indifference in the controversial Osun LG poll case.

    Last Saturday’s Osun LG poll was a reflection of Mr Adeleke’s political desperation. His reelection is not due until around the middle of 2026, and the tenure of the current LG office holders will expire in October 2025. He will still be governor by the time the next legitimate LG poll is called, and he will probably still put up a good showing, that is if he does not win outright. Osun voters have not proved to be very discriminating or avid pursuers of enlightened self-interest. They routinely cut their nose to spite their face, and would as soon commit regicide as embark on political hara-kiri. That Mr Adeleke has not been spectacular in office, nor shown any remarkable capacity to innovate and embark on futuristic developmental projects does not mean he would not get enough impressionable Osun people to ignore his dancing jamborees to vote for him or his candidates. Had he let the LG poll to hold as it should later this year, he would probably still have won, but maybe not by the absurdly huge margin Nigerians have resigned themselves to accommodating in the states.

    Read Also: Six shot in Osun community as Adeleke’s aide allegedly leads gunmen

    The problem with last Saturday’s Osun LG poll is not the already litigated PDP membership of the OSIEC chairman, Mr Abioye, or the Court of Appeal judgement indicating that the 2022 elected LG officials were legitimate, or even the firm and unambiguous opinion of the AGF on the controversial new LG poll. The real problem is that Mr Adeleke, citing the constitution and mouthing democratic principles, went ahead to defy reason and conduct a poll certain to be discredited in the eyes of the law. His main ambition, it seems, is to first win reelection by any means possible and then try to clear the legal mess and complication the latest LG poll might bring. He may be fixated on dancing, even in inappropriate circumstances, but he is not slow in understanding the country’s political dynamics. He knows that fellow governors riding the storms in their states manage to do so by defying everything about the constitution and the rule of law. And he thinks that if he does not play truancy with the system, in the most aggressive and reckless way possible, he could be brushed aside.

    OSIEC chairman Mr Abioye will eventually be judicially declared illegitimate, and last Saturday’s LG poll will not stand. But the impunity in Osun, like in some other states, will remain pervasive in direct correlation to the federal government’s reluctance to defend the rule of law. It is not clear how long the feds will keep yielding inches and yards and miles to malfeasant politicians in the name of democracy, but if the government does not draw a red line in the sand, perhaps starting from Osun, if it does not financially empower the 2022 elected LG officials with statutory allocation, then it would in fact be complicit in the weakening and corrosion of Nigerian democracy. The feds should take a stand rather than continue to genuflect.

  • Osun APM chairman warns Adeleke against funding ‘sit-at-home’ council executives 

    Osun APM chairman warns Adeleke against funding ‘sit-at-home’ council executives 

    The Osun State Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Hon. Adebayo Adewale, has cautioned Governor Ademola Adeleke against using state funds to support the newly elected local government chairmen and councillors. 

    Adebayo described the newly elected council executives as “sit-at-home” officials, questioning their legitimacy and role in governance. 

    The Nation reports that Adeleke swore in the elected chairmen and councillors on Sunday at the Government House after the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the winner of the local government election. 

    Following their swearing-in, Adeleke directed the council executives to stay away from local government secretariats until the ongoing dispute over control is resolved. 

    In a statement on Monday, the APM chairman insisted that state allocations should not be used to bankroll the elected council officials while the crisis persists.

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    He said: “We are so displeased with our governor, Ademola Adeleke for breaching the constitution he sworn to uphold. He flaunted the Court of Appeal verdict despite warnings from the Federal government and IGP.

    “When the governor openly kicked against the law, how would the rule of law reign in Osun State? When the governor is lawless what moral justification would he have to preach orderliness?

    “It is our strong advice that our governor, Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, not use state allocation to fund illegal council chairmen because we are sure that the federal government will stop money going to the councils amid the crisis.”

    Adebayo added: “Funding sit-at-home chairmen and councillors with State allocation will amount to another breach of constitution, and we will be counting all these sins against the governor.” 

  • Council poll: Adeleke breached oath of office, says APC

    Council poll: Adeleke breached oath of office, says APC

    • Release allocation to reinstated chairmen
    • Governor urges chairmen to stay away from secretariats

    Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has breached his oath of office by conducting illegal council poll that have sparked chaos, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday.

    The ruling party urged the Federal Government to withhold Federation Account allocation meant for the 30 local governments until they are governed by reinstated elected officials.

    Following the February 10 Court of Appeal judgment reinstating the sacked council chairmen, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi cautioned the Osun State government against going ahead with the planned local government election, which, he said, will be invalid.

    But on Friday, the Osun State government got an order from a state High Court to go ahead with the election which held and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates declared winner in all 30 councils were swron in yesterday by Governor Adeleke.

    The APC condemned the poll, and accused the government and the state chapter of the PDP of threatening peace.

    The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, maintained in statement in Abuja that the election was “illegal and unconstitutional.”

    During the swearing-in of the chairmen, Adeleke asked them to stay away from the secretariats.

    Dismissing the polls as a ruse, Morka said: “The purported last Saturday’s fresh election conducted by Governor Adeleke and his PDP is nothing but a disgraceful sham, illegal, unconstitutional and violently contemptuous of the valid and subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal, and of no effect whatsoever.

    “The exercise was a reckless waste of public funds, and an irresponsible incitement to further violence in an already volatile atmosphere in the state.”

    He noted that the appellate court in its ruling on February 10, 2025, overturned a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the election of APC-backed local government officials in 2022.

    Faulting the governor, Morka said his action was a “flagrant breach” of his oath of office, adding that the “reckless political provocation” led to violent unrest and loss of lives in some local governments.

    He also frowned at the appointment of caretaker committees for the local councils after dismissing elected officials in 2022, pointing out that the move  violated Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees democratically elected local governments.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Stay away from LG secretariats, Adeleke tells newly elected chairmen, councillors

    Morka queried: “Why is it so difficult for Governor Adeleke, who swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, to abide by a valid order of the Court of Appeal? Why is the Governor so determined to incite anarchy in Osun State with impunity?”

    Morka urged security agencies in the state to ensure law and order amid rising tensions.

    He also advised Adeleke to seek redress in the Supreme Court instead of taking “unconstitutional shortcuts” that could further destabilise the state.

    The party official enjoined local government workers to continue their duties under the reinstated chairmen and councillors.

    He said: “In keeping with the rule of law, it is our expectation that the Federal Government will make allocation for local governments available only to democratically elected and judicially certified local government officials in Osun state.”

    Adeleke to new helmsmen: stay away from secretariats

    Adeleke directed the new chairmen and councillors to stay away from local government secretariats after inaugurating them at the Government House, Oke-Fia,  Osogbo, the state capital.

    Accompanied by his Oyo and Bauchi counterparts, Seyi Makinde and Bala Muhammad, he commended the OSIEC for complying with all extant rules and procedures during the election.

    Adeleke said: “We are equally aware of the legal controversies that dogged the holding of the election. It is however, a thing of joy that the facts are out in the public domain and we are satisfied that we are on the side of the law within the context of rule of law and the constitution.”

    The governor congratulated the chairmen, urging them to deliver good governance in their respective councils by developing plans of action within the manifesto of the PDP.

    Adeleke said: “I urge you and your councilors to please, stay away from the council secretariats to avoid any clash with those whom the police had aided to forcefully occupy the local government secretariats.

    “The Osun State High Court had affirmed the vacancies in the chairmanship and councillorship positions in all of Osun State local governments before your election on the 22nd February 2025.

    “We will, therefore, rely on the judiciary to ensure a peaceful removal of those illegally occupying the local government secretariats. Please, be patient and always abide by the rule of law.”

    No room for violence in Southwest,  says Makinde

    Reflecting on the crisis, Makinde said: “We don’t want wild wild west again. They should stay away from this zone. We want to peacefully provide the dividend of democracy for the people.

    “They should not resort to self help even if there is a court judgment. They should not think because they have federal might. This is a Federal arrangement. I will stop here.”

    APC to chairmen: Keep occupying secretariats

    The Osun APC in a statement by its Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, directed the reinstated chairmen and councillors to resume at the secretariats.

    It said: “We want to make it abundantly clear that it is imperative for the elected APC local government chairmen and councillors not to cease from resumption at their various local government council areas to continue to serve the deprived people at the grassroots level of government.

    “We are not unaware of the fact that some disgruntled elements who are emboldened by the lawless government of the day in Osun State are planning to invade the local government council areas across the state. 

    “We would like to enjoin the state Commissioner of Police, the State Director of the DSS and the State Comptroller of the Civil Defence to be on watch out, with a view to keeping peace in all the local government council areas in the state.”

    Chairmen get Certificates of Return

    The 30 chairmen have received their certificates of returns from the state electoral commission, according to a statement by its Information Officer, Sadiat Isiaka.

    She said “The OSSIEC chairman congratulated the elected chairmen on their victory, just as he urged them to be good ambassadors of democracy both in conduct and service to the people.”