Governor Ademola Adeleke said he has forgiven all those who may have offended him during the state elections and declared that he bears no grudge against political adversaries and opponents.
The governor who spoke while receiving a certificate of return from the electoral commission said “God has fought my battles for me and so I hold unto God throughout the duration of the political war and now that I have been re-elected”
While announcing a Five Hundred Million naira (N500m) education scholarship for victims of political violence, the governor commended the electoral body 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 Election, the DSS. I would have loved the police to do more but we thank God the election day went violent free”, the governor submitted.
The INEC National Commissioner for Osun election, Prof Kunle Ajayi in his address commended the passion, the commitment and the activism of Osun voters whom he said defied electoral violence and trooped out to exercise their voting rights.
“Osun people are the heroes of the Saturday election. Active citizenry always makes a difference in the conduct of credible elections. Osun people proved to the world that democracy can work when the people are involved”, the INEC chief said
At a massively attended rally organised by the joint labour movement at Osogbo, the governor 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.
“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.
“Today is not merely a day for the presentation of a Certificate of Return. It is a day of gratitude, reflection and, above all, appreciation for the people of Osun State who stood firm for democracy.
“This certificate does not belong to Ademola Adeleke alone. It belongs to the people of Osun State, the market men and women, workers, youths, traditional and religious leaders, and every citizen who demonstrates that our democracy cannot be intimidated, purchased or suppressed. I am deeply humbled by your courage and by the confidence you have renewed in me.
“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”, the governor told the thousands of public workers at the State Secretariat.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Osun state chapter, Dr 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 Accord in future legislative elections”, the labour chief vowed.
Governor Adeleke later visited the Ataoja of Osogbo, the Timi of Ede and Senator Oluwole Alabi to present his certificate of returns for royal blessings.
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