Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
The certificate was presented to Adeleke at a ceremony held at the INEC headquarters in Osogbo by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Professor Kunle Ajani.
Adeleke thanked the people of Osun for renewing his mandate, saying the victory belonged to citizens who supported him throughout the electoral process.
However, the governor called for sober reflection over the violence recorded during the election, which resulted in injuries, destruction of property and loss of lives.
In response, Adeleke announced that the state government would establish a ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to provide support to verified victims and families affected by the violence.
“This certificate does not belong to Ademola Adeleke alone. It belongs to the people of Osun State,” he said.
The governor paid tribute to victims of the electoral violence, including Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass and Kolade Eluyera.
Adeleke said the deaths and destruction should not be treated simply as election statistics, stressing that the victims were citizens whose families continue to bear the consequences.
“To their families, your pain is our pain, and your loved ones will never be reduced to mere statistics,” he said.
He announced that a Verification and Relief Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, would identify verified victims and oversee the distribution of relief.
According to Adeleke, the intervention would be humanitarian and would not be influenced by political affiliation.
He assured that no eligible victim would be excluded because of political party, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status.
“In grief, there is no political party. In our common humanity, we are one people,” Adeleke said.
At a separate reception organised by workers in his honour, the governor disclosed that the Adeleke family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, would provide full scholarships up to university level for children and dependants of people who lost their lives during the electoral violence.
Adeleke also called on residents to put the election behind them and focus on rebuilding and developing the state.
“The election is over. The campaign is over. The contest is over. Now is the time to govern, unite, heal and build,” he said.
He assured residents that his administration would continue to prioritise infrastructure, healthcare, education, workers’ welfare, youth empowerment and economic development, while maintaining a focus on accountability, inclusion and transparency.
The governor later received a warm reception from workers who gathered to celebrate his return for a second term.
Source: Osun State Government / INEC
