Adeleke takes oath of office as 6th Osun Governor, freezes state accounts

• “I left N14bn for my successor,” – Outgoing Gov. Oyetola

Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was on Sunday sworn in as the sixth Executive Governor of Osun, along with his Deputy, Kola Adewusi even as  the  out-going Governor  Gboyega Oyetola, said  he left N14 billion in the state’s coffers for his successor.

Adeleke, decked in a white attire with green and white cap, was administered with Oath and Allegiance of Office by the state Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, at exactly 11.47 a.m. at a colourful ceremony held at Osogbo City Stadium.

His Deputy, Adewusi, was earlier administered with Oath and Allegiance of Office by the Chief Judge at 11:36 a.m.

Addressing the people of Osun, Adeleke announced the immediate freezing of all the state government accounts in the banks and other financial institutions.

He also directed an immediate return to the status quo of all fresh appointments, placements and other major decisions taken by the immediate past administration with effect from July 17.

Adeleke also announced that there would be establishment of a panel to carry out an inventory and recovery of all the government assets.

The governor ordered an immediate reversal to the constitutionally recognised name of the state as Osun State from its former “State of Osun”.

According to him, all government insignia, correspondences and signages should henceforth reflect Osun State, rather than State of Osun, which is unknown to the Nigerian Constitution.

“Under my watch as the Governor of Osun State, I will boldly correct all past injustice, corrupt acts or policies by any previous administration, which are against the collective interest of our people,” he said.

Adeleke, however, said that all the directives would be backed up with appropriate executive orders.

The governor said he was aware of his responsibility as the Governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, which entails meeting the legitimate expectations of the people.

Adeleke promised that all the expectations would be met.

He said his administration would also demonstrate a high sense of urgency, transparency, justice and innovation to tackle and solve the problems of poverty, illiteracy, disease and poor infrastructure.

“I know that as a product of the collective will of my people, there is a heavy weight of history on my shoulders.

“And, I accept the urgency of your expectations, the depth of your aspirations and your conviction in me to build a better state,” he said.

Adeleke, also said that all policies that were not favourable to the growth of effective local government administration would be reviewed in accordance with the law.

He assured the labour unions in the state of his administration’s+ willingness to protect workers’ interest and promote their welfare at all times, saying that he would be labour friendly.

The governor, however, frowned at what he described as mass employment by the immediate past administration without financial backing.

Adeleke pleaded with the workers to give him few weeks to review and sort out all the actions and malicious confusions which the immediate past administration had created since July 17.

The governor also promised to fulfil his campaign agenda, including welfare of workers and pensioners; boosting the state’s economy, home-grown infrastructure policy; people-focused policy on education, affordable healthcare, security and social welfare and agro-based industrialisation for wealth and jobs creation.

“I hereby extend a strong hand of fellowship to the other arms of governments- the Legislature and the Judiciary.

“As a former lawmaker and a graduate of Criminal Justice, I appreciate the importance of collaboration among the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.

“I call on all political parties to unite in the best interest of the state. Election is over. Now is the time for governance. We are open to fresh ideas in line with our manifesto.

“For the purpose of emphasis, I will be a Governor for all Osun people, regardless of differences in languages, faith, political affiliations or any other considerations,” he said.

The  dignitaries at the inauguration included Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom; Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta; Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto and Douye Diri of Bayelsa.

Others were PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his wife Titi; PDP National Chairman, Iyiorcha Ayu; former Senate President, Olusola Saraki; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; former Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose; Tony Elumelu; David Adeleke, aka Davido, among others.

Out-going governor of Osun, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, says he left N14 billion in the state’s coffers for his successor, Sen. Ademola Adeleke.

In his farewell message, released in Osogbo on Sunday by Mr Ismaila Omipidan, his media aide, Oyetola stated that his administration paid N97 billion of the debt it inherited in 2018, when he assumed office.

Oyetola declared that his administration did not borrow any money from anywhere to finance the state’s economy, stressing that he kept faith and maintained fidelity with his electoral promises throughout his tenure.

“We are leaving behind cash balance of more than N14 billion.

“In addition to the N14 billion cash, another N8 billion is being expected between December and January 2023 from our performance in States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability programme (SFTAS) and from Internally Generated Revenue.

SFTAS is a government programme designed to advance fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability of states of the federation.

“For four years, we did not take any bank loan.

“We benefitted from the N3 billion monthly interventions by the Federal Government to all the states for six months to cushion the effect of deductions of budget support facility and salary bailouts taken by the previous administration.

“We paid N97 billion from the total debt we inherited in 2018,” he stated.

The out-going governor added that the state was also expecting 72 million dollars from other programmes and from the NG-CARES programme of the Federal Government, among others.

“These are earned, based on performance. And we have indeed performed to earn them,” he stressed.

Oyetola stated also that his administration put the state’s economy on a surer footing through its myriad people-centred and masses-focused projects, promptly executed to make life worthwhile for the people.

He stressed that Osun’s economy stabilised during his tenure as manifested in the astronomical increment in the GDP of the state.

He affirmed that Osun was more stable economically than he met it in 2018 in spite of all the visible socio-economic challenges that confronted the state.

He stated that he contained the fears and evils of fiscal indiscipline and lack of implementation which hampered the execution of projects and delivery of services.

“As I step aside today following the conclusion of the four-year tenure you freely gave me, I thank God and I thank the people of Osun for your support, cooperation and prayers over the years.

“I recall how the journey began four years ago; how by your belief in me and your conviction in the plans and programmes of our party, the All Peoples Congress (APC), you exercised your right to vote for me.

“As we draw the curtains on this first tenure, we are convinced that we neither reneged on our promise nor disappointed you. (NAN)