Osun Poll: Adeleke gets certificate of return, unveils ₦500m fund for violence victims

Ademola Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State, has been issued his Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after he emerged victorious in the August 15 gubernatorial election.

Adeleke was presented with the certificate at the INEC head office in Osogbo on Wednesday, after which he credited his success to the people of Osun State and thanked them for endorsing him.

Nonetheless, the governor lamented that there was need for sobriety when reflecting on the violence that characterized the election, which left several injured, destroyed properties and claimed lives.

An Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund has been established to take care of verified victims of the violence with N500 million.

Adeleke said the intervention would be humanitarian and would not discriminate on the basis of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status.

He also disclosed that his family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, would provide full scholarships up to university level for children and dependants of those who lost their lives during the electoral violence.

The governor urged residents to put the election behind them and unite for the development of the state.

“The election is over. The campaign is over. The contest is over. Now is the time to govern, unite, heal and build,” Adeleke said.

He assured residents that his administration would continue to prioritise infrastructure, healthcare, education, workers’ welfare, youth empowerment and economic development, with emphasis on accountability, inclusion and transparency.