Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has vowed to heal the wounds of the recent governorship election, unite residents and run a more inclusive administration as the state marks its 35th anniversary.
Adeleke made the pledge in a statewide broadcast on Thursday, acknowledging the deaths, injuries and disruption that accompanied the electoral period.
The governor said the difficult circumstances surrounding the election had tested Osun’s democratic values, while commending residents for turning out to exercise their voting rights despite the tension.
“My people, as you have again conferred the leadership mandate on me under recent difficult circumstances, I promise to heal the wounds, unite the people and uphold equity and fairness,” Adeleke said.
He promised that his administration would remain inclusive and attentive to criticism as it seeks to strengthen development across the state.
His remarks came days after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared him winner of the August 15 governorship election.
Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, polled 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes.
The poll followed weeks of political tension and violence, with deaths and injuries recorded before and around the election.
Against that backdrop, Adeleke announced plans for a Commission of Inquiry into the electoral violence.
He said the commission would receive memoranda from victims and residents affected by the incidents, investigate the causes of the violence and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The governor also announced an election victims compensation initiative, building on the N500 million relief fund earlier established by his administration for people affected by the violence.
The fund is being administered through a verification process headed by Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, with affected residents expected to submit claims and supporting evidence.
Adeleke urged residents to reject reprisal attacks and allow the state to move beyond the painful events surrounding the election.
“We must not engage in reprisal attacks,” he said.
He also praised Osun voters for what he described as courage in defending democracy, saying residents rejected guns and embraced the ballot despite the atmosphere of fear.
The governor described the recent election as one of the toughest tests of Osun’s identity since the state was created 35 years ago.
Osun was carved out of the old Oyo State on August 27, 1991, during the military administration of former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida.
As the state begins another chapter, Adeleke pledged to build on his administration’s programmes in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, sports and the digital economy.
He also promised greater attention to youth and women empowerment, industrialisation, workers’ welfare, rural development, wealth creation and poverty reduction.
The governor called for continued cooperation from residents, saying the priority now should be to rebuild trust and concentrate on 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 had said after receiving his Certificate of Return.
With the political contest settled, attention now shifts to whether the promised inquiry, relief programme and reconciliation efforts can help restore confidence among communities affected by the violence.
