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Tag: Ademola Adeleke

  • Southwest Games will unlock opportunities for youth, says Adeleke

    Southwest Games will unlock opportunities for youth, says Adeleke

    Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has thrown his full weight behind the South West Games 2025, describing the tournament as a revolutionary initiative that will unlock unprecedented opportunities for youth empowerment and socioeconomic development in the region.

    Governor Adeleke gave this glowing endorsement while receiving the President of the South West Games 2025, Dr. Lanre Alfred, and members of the Organising Committee, Mr Victor Alaba Ganzallo, Mr Kayode Oluwaseyi Alfred and Mr Dehinde Fajana at the State House in Osun, where he was presented with a customized tournament jersey alongside his ebullient Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi. The Governor, visibly excited about the upcoming sporting extravaganza, pledged his unwavering support and promised to grace the event in person when it kicks off later this month, precisely March 25, 2025.

    “The South West Games 2025 is a groundbreaking initiative that will redefine the future of sports and youth development in our region. Sports have the extraordinary ability to uplift young people, offering them a pathway to greatness, discipline, and self-actualization. I am immensely proud to endorse this noble cause and will be there live to witness history in the making,” Governor Adeleke declared.

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    Adeleke, renowned for his passionate commitment to youth development and grassroots engagement, commended the vision behind the South West Games, emphasizing that the tournament aligns with his administration’s broader agenda of fostering economic growth and creating opportunities for young talents in Osun State and beyond.

    “Sport provides more than entertainment; it is a powerful vehicle for economic advancement. This tournament will not only birth new sporting champions but will also serve as an economic driver, stimulating commerce, tourism, and employment opportunities for our people. Osun is ready to be part of this revolutionary journey,” the Governor stated.

    One of its key highlights is the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Southwest Alliance Games (BATSWAG), a dedicated sub-tournament aimed at nurturing young athletes under the age of 18.

    Governor Adeleke underscored the significance of this initiative, lauding its potential to cultivate the next generation of world-class athletes.

  • Six shot in Osun community as Adeleke’s aide allegedly leads gunmen

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

    Residents 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 shot six persons over land tussle. 

    They also inflicted injuries on a chief and son of the king

    Disturbed by the development, Adeleke ordered immediate probe into the incident. 

    A viral video on Saturday showed seven men armed with pump action threatening the community. 

    The residents were screaming in Yoruba language ‘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’. 

    Baale Shasha of Egbedi, Chief Yisa Akolapo, explained: “Crisis started on Wednesday, as Senior Special Assistant to Adeleke on Internal Security, Kazeem Oriade who is from Ede led others to Egbedi.

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    “When Ajiroba of Egbedi, Chief Yisa Abayomi and the prince, Nurudeen Abioye were sent by king approached them, they were hacked in their heads, the scene made the residents to 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, Kazeem Oriade who is SSA to Adeleke was shouting that he was carrying out the action on Governor’s authority.”

    He noted: “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, we have been reporting them at the police station because we don’t want to resort to self-help.”

    Adeleke through his spokesperson, Olawake Rasheed, in a statement assured Edgbedi community of adequate security. 

    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. 

    “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.”

  • No going back on Saturday council poll, says Adeleke

    No going back on Saturday council poll, says Adeleke

    Governor Ademola Adeleke has insisted that Osun Local Government election fixed for Saturday, February 22, 2025 will hold despite violence over control of councils with embattled All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen. 

    Adeleke in a statewide address on Thursday tasked politicians to abide by the rule of law during the exercise, declaring that peace has returned to the State after recent face-off with embattled chairmen reinstated by Appeal Court verdict.

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    He assured that the rule of law will eventually resolve the matter peacefully, saying: “As a government, we have read through the said judgment. We have submitted it to the best of legal minds for interpretation. We will allow the court to determine the correctness or otherwise of their claim.”

  • Osun: politics of blood and gore

    Osun: politics of blood and gore

    Are there still leaders in Osun, after the bloodbath of February 17?

    A fatal take-over bid, in 15 out of the state’s 30 local councils, has claimed a known name, Remi Abbas, an Irewole council chair hoping to regain his office, yet lost his life.  The Police have confirmed five others dead — nameless statistics?

    Yet, what do their leaders say?

    Governor Ademola Adeleke: “I equally condole with families of victims of the APC illegal takeover bid and the chaos the state and their hired thugs. PDP lost five members with several others wounded.

    So, Remi Abbas was rightfully killed, tit-for-tat — or what the hell was the governor saying?  Does Adeleke even realize he’s now governor for all, though PDP gave him the platform?

    And this from Ajibola Bashiru, PhD, a top APC hierarch in Osun, on account of being the party’s national secretary: “I will suggest that perhaps it will be necessary for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency.  It has gotten to that stage where hapless people coming from farms are attacked by uncontrollable PDP thugs.”

    Even if that were so, is veiled presidential name-dropping, with threatened imposition of emergency rule, the solution? Does Bashiru remember what trouble Nigeria cropped in 1962, when a federal executive played politics with emergency rule in the West? Was the present Osun not among the epicentre of that crisis, which led to the collapse of the 1st Republic? O, for a sense of history!

    Kola Alimi, incidentally an ex-APC, but now Adeleke’s commissioner, delivered a fitting riposte: “I call on our amiable President to reject the call of Honourable Bashiru and his cohorts. That is what they are targeting; they deliberately caused mayhem in the state”. 

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    Well put.  But Alimi himself played the partisan card.  Life should be far too sacrosanct to use as cheeky tally to settle political scores.

    And this roar from young Turk, Jamiu Olawunmi: “We have taken 15 LGAs, including Ede South, the council of Adeleke.  We’re continuing the struggle tomorrow!

    Wow! How rash!  How unthinking!  So, the young man felt painting the governor as a powerless jelly, in his own home council, would end well for anyone?

    Well, the “struggle” did continue “tomorrow”.  As yesterday there was news that APC had indeed “fully taken over” the councils.  But at what cost?  Would that bring poor Abbas back to life?

    But can you really blame a rash youth, when all the leaders have manifested was culpable lack of introspection?

    To make a rash dash for a council takeover, without thinking something grave would give, is as harebrained as they come.  To respond with brazen violence is no less hare-brained — and here, the Osun PDP had the greater motive, to protect its turf.

    The Police must fish out everyone involved — not only the bozos that pulled the trigger but their enablers who, after driving violence, always resort to empty cant.

  • Adeleke, Oyetola clash over enforcement of A’ Court verdict reinstating LGAs executives

    Adeleke, Oyetola clash over enforcement of A’ Court verdict reinstating LGAs executives

    Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, have clashed over the plan to enforce the Court of Appeal verdict reinstating sacked elected All Progressives Congress (APC) executives back to office.

    The Appeal Court had reinstated the council executives of the APC, elected in 2022, who were sacked by Adeleke following the Federal High Court’s nullification of their election.

    During a briefing at Government House Oke-Fia, Osogbo, alongside the Attorney-General, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, and Information Commissioner, Kolapo Alimi, Governor Adeleke accused Oyetola of hijacking the security of the state.

    He said: “I am here to alert the national and global audience about a deliberate plot to create chaos and anarchy in Osun state. I am to expose a fascist anti-democratic agenda designed to enforce a non-existent court judgment on our local governments.

    “This evil plot is being spearheaded by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Gboyega Oyetola in active collaboration with the Osun state Commissioner of Police, the Osun state Director of DSS, and the State Commandant of the Civil Defense Corps.”

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    He urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene to prevent bloodletting and bloodshed in the state.

    Meanwhile, Oyetola in a statement he signed, dismissed the allegation that he was plotting to destabilize the state, saying his antecedents, pedigree, and track records of public service in the last 15 years do not support the claim by Governor Adeleke.

    He said: “I am a man of peace who has tremendous respect for the judiciary, rule of law, and constituted authority, as such would never be a party to any breakdown of law and order.

    “In 2022, when Governor Ademola Adeleke employed extra-judicial means to sack democratically elected council officials, Oyetola as the leader of the party, never preached violence. Instead, he led the party members to court.”

    The minister appealed to Adeleke to respect the Appeal Court judgment, rather than resort to “cheap blackmail, which has no place in law,” the statement reads in part.

  • JUST IN: Adeleke alleges security hijack over court ruling on sacked Osun LG executives  

    JUST IN: Adeleke alleges security hijack over court ruling on sacked Osun LG executives  

    From Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

    Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, has raised alarm over what he described as the hijacking of the state’s security apparatus to enforce a misinterpreted Appeal Court verdict on the reinstatement of sacked local government executives. 

    The Appeal Court had recently reinstated All Progressives Congress (APC) council executives elected in 2022 but removed by Adeleke after a Federal High Court nullified their election. 

    Addressing journalists at the Government House in Osogbo on Sunday, alongside Attorney-General Oluwole Jimi-Bada and Information Commissioner Kolapo Alimi, Adeleke accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, of manipulating security agencies to enforce the ruling in favour of the APC executives.

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    He said: “I am here to alert the national and global audience about a deliberate plot to create chaos and anarchy in Osun state. I am to expose a fascist anti-democratic agenda designed to enforce a non-existent court judgment on our local governments.

    “This evil plot is being spearheaded by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola in active collaboration with the Osun state Commissioner of Police, the Osun state Director of DSS, and the State Commandant of the Civil Defense Corps.”

    He urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene to prevent bloodletting and bloodshed in the state.

    Details shortly…

  • Osun LG: Adeleke raises alarm over alleged plot by opposition to disrupt election

    Osun LG: Adeleke raises alarm over alleged plot by opposition to disrupt election

    Ahead of the February 22, 2025, local government election, Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, has raised concerns over an alleged plot by some opposition elements to incite crisis during the polls. 

    The governor, however, assured all stakeholders that his administration would not interfere in the election process and pledged to provide adequate security for residents. 

    In a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke commended the peaceful campaigns by various political parties.

    He urged candidates to focus on presenting their agendas to the electorate without resorting to violence or intimidation.

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    Adeleke said: “As a government, we are committed to free and fair elections. We have followed the preparatory activities of the state electoral commission and we assure the public that we respect the independence of the commission to conduct credible elections.

    “We are highly educated in Osun state. Our literacy level is at an all-time high. This is not a state where residents can be lied to. They read and digest court rulings and political subjects without being hoodwinked. I urge our people to get prepared for February 22. It is an opportunity to vote for your preferred council chairmen and councilors.

    He disclosed: “We have credible reports of plots by elements within the opposition to foment crisis in Osun state. I warn those plotting such evil to desist because of its grave consequences.

    “As the Chief Security Officer of this state, I have directed security agencies to deal decisively with any promoter of violence within the context of the rule of law. We will not allow this state to be plunged into a baseless conflict.

    “Democracy is about ballot papers, not guns and cutlass. Go to the poll on the 22nd. Make your preference known in peaceful manners,” he concluded. 

  • Adeleke  kicks-off  remodelling of Osogbo stadium

    Adeleke  kicks-off  remodelling of Osogbo stadium

    The Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke  is piqued  over the  poor state of sports infrastructure in the state.

    Speaking during the flag-off of remodelling of Osogbo Stadium, Adeleke  noted  his administration is breaking the jinx of poor sporting activities, hence the planned  renovation  of  the infrastructure within the period of 12months.

    He said:  “When I came in as the governor of the state, this stadium was in terrible condition. The state of sport in Osun was appalling. We therefore decided to do some remarkable things that can boost the development of Sports in the State.

     “This project is not mere renovation but re-development and remodelling of the state sports Stadium to attain global standard. We have a big vision of Osun state with the best sporting facilities in the country.

     “By the time we finish this development, the stadium will be a beautiful edifice to behold. Our dream is to build a stadium with capacity to host various sporting events such as the National sports Festival, National Youth Games and  importantly to host some of our national teams including Super Eagles in their various continental and International matches.”

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    Highlighting the specifications of the remodelling, he said the Osogbo stadium will have major pitches of International standard including volleyball, swimming, handball, hockey, basketball and a host of other.

    He added : “The remodelling will also include a befitting indoor sports hall, hostels for the athletes and a state-of-art 4-star hotel.”

    He promised that the government will build revenue generation into the entire project to ensure sustainability and short and long term viability.

    Adeleke  further  disclosed that he has finalised the legal framework for creation of Osun Sports Commission, stressing:  “This is to enhance harmonious development and administration of all games in the state.”

  • Adeleke woos foreign investors to boost agric sector

    Adeleke woos foreign investors to boost agric sector

    Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke yesterday met with diplomats to discuss potential investments in the state’s agricultural sector, highlighting the vast opportunities available in the state.

    Speaking at a diplomatic briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Adeleke urged ambassadors and high commissioners to promote investment in the agricultural sector, not only in his state, but also across the country.

    The diplomatic briefing was part of activities lined up for the state’s International Agricultural Exhibition and Agribusiness Conference billed for April in Osogbo, the state capital.

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    At the meeting were Ambassadors of Tunisia, Cuba, India, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya Philippines, Ethiopia, Portugal Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Zimbabwe, among others.

    The governor, represented by the senator representing Osun West, Lere Oyewunmi, said with its rich cocoa belt and vast arable land, Osun State was poised to become a major player in Nigeria’s agricultural industry.

    He said the state had tackled its infrastructure deficits and was open for business, adding that his administration was ready to provide incentives and support, to ensure their investment thrives.

    He said: “Today, I am inviting your businessmen and women to come and invest in Osun State and Nigeria in general. I can assure you of a bountiful return on their investments.

  • Adeleke woos foreign investors to boost Osun’s Agric sector

    Adeleke woos foreign investors to boost Osun’s Agric sector

    Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Tuesday met with diplomats to discuss potential investments in the state’s agricultural sector, highlighting the vast opportunities available in the state.

    Speaking at a diplomatic briefing at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Adeleke urged ambassadors and high commissioners from various countries to promote investment in the agricultural sector, not only in his state but also across the country. 

    The diplomatic briefing was part of activities lined up for the state’s International Agricultural Exhibition and Agribusiness Conference billed for April in Osogbo, the state capital.

    Present at the meeting are Ambassadors of Tunisia, Cuba, India, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya Philippines, Ethiopia, Portugal Côte d’Ivoire , Niger, Zimbabwe among others. 

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    The governor, who was represented at by the senator representing Osun West, Lere Oyewunmi, said that with its rich cocoa belt and vast arable land, Osun State was poised to become a major player in Nigeria’s agricultural industry. 

    He noted that the state had tackled its infrastructure deficits and was open for business, adding that his administration was ready to provide incentives and support to ensure their investment thrives.

    He said: “Today, I am inviting your businessmen and women to come and invest in Osun state and Nigeria in general. I can assure you of a bountiful return on their investments. I am proud to say that nowhere is better to invest in the whole world than Nigeria with the enabling environment being provided by our Federal Government.

    “Specifically, Osun is an agricultural hub of South Western Nigeria. Our ease of doing business rating is high. Our investment climate is positive, and our state policies promote agro-industrialisation, among others. Our state has functioning free trade zones and we have tackled our infra deficits to a great extent. Osun is open for business.

    “Agritech Nigeria Osun 2025 is an international meeting place for manufacturers, researchers, investors, academia, purchasers and decision-makers, representing both local and international interests. Our government is ready to provide incentives and support to ensure your investment thrives in my state.

    “Our government knows we cannot do it alone and that is why we assembled here today to invite participants from around the world.to come and participate in the Agritech Nigeria Osun 2025. I am ready to host you and your companies.”

    In his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tugar, who was represented by the Director, Economy, Trade and Investment, Amb. Bolaji Akenremi, expressed the Ministry’s readiness to promote international cooperation and support initiatives that can contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification.

    He said Governor Adeleke’s efforts to woo investors and promote the state’s agricultural potential are a testament to his commitment to driving economic growth and development in the state.

    He said: “This meeting underscores the importance of leveraging diplomacy to attract investment, technology, and expertise that will enhance food security, promote agribusinesses, and drive sustainable economic development.

    “At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we recognise the pivotal role of sub-national diplomacy in fostering economic transformation.

    “We stand ready to facilitate partnership, promote international cooperation, and support initiatives that can contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification and agriculture. I encourage our esteemed diplomatic partners to explore the vast opportunities that Osho State offers in agribusiness and to collaborate in fostering mutually beneficial exchanges in technology, capacity building, and market expansion.”