Governor Ademola Adeleke
While announcing a ₦500 million education scholarship for victims of political violence, the governor commended INEC for acting professionally and within the dictates of the Electoral Act.
“I commend the electoral commission for doing a good job. You stood for democracy. I commend the security agencies, especially the Commissioner of Police for the election; the DSS. I would have loved the police to do more, but we thank God the election day went violence-free,” the governor said.
Shortly after, the governor arrived at the Ataoja Palace in Osogbo, welcomed by a crowd of residents.Campaigns & Elections
He commiserated with families of the deceased and the injured, lamenting that “we remember Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass, Kolade Eluyera, and the many other victims whose lives were cut short or permanently affected by electoral violence. To their families, I say: your pain has not been forgotten, and your loved ones will never be reduced to statistics.“
Scholarships For Victims’ Dependents
“As part of our commitment to supporting affected families, the Adeleke family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, will provide automatic scholarships up to university level for the children and dependents of those who lost their lives,” the governor declared at a separate celebration rally organised by Osun labour movement.State & Local Government
“But as we celebrate, we must remember those who paid a painful price during the electoral process. Citizens were injured, properties were destroyed, livelihoods disrupted and, most painfully, lives were lost.
“In addition, the Osun State Government will establish a ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to provide relief and support to verified victims and families affected by the violence.
“A Verification and Relief Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, will oversee the transparent identification and assessment of victims and the equitable distribution of relief.
“This is not a political fund. It is a humanitarian intervention. No eligible victim will be discriminated against on the basis of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status,” Adeleke told the public workers at the State Secretariat.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State chapter, Christopher Arapasopo, praised the labour movement on the re-election of Governor Adeleke and announced that in future legislative elections, Osun workers will still vote for Accord candidates.
“We defied attacks and intimidation to support the re-election of Governor Adeleke. We will never bow to those who want to enslave us. We will still vote for Accord in future legislative elections,” the labour leader was quoted as saying.
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