Adeleke receives Certificate of Return, pledges N500m fund for election violence victims

Abdullateef Fowewe

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, using the occasion to call for healing and announce a ₦500 million endowment fund for victims of election-related violence.

In remarks titled “A TIME TO HEAL, UNITE AND BUILD,” Adeleke said the certificate “does not belong to Ademola Adeleke alone” but to the people of Osun, including workers, market men and women, youths, traditional and religious leaders.

“But even in victory, we must be sober in reflection. Citizens were injured, properties and livelihoods were destroyed and, most painfully, precious lives were lost,” he said.

He added, “It is deeply painful that any family should have to bury a loved one because of politics. No election, political office or ambition is worth the life of a single citizen.”

The governor specifically named victims of the pre-election and election violence, including 14-year-old Ezekiel Olapade, Aderogba Ajayi, Remi Abass and Kolade Eluyera, saying, “Regardless of political affiliation, they were first our brothers, sisters and fellow citizens.”

“To their families, your pain is our pain, and your loved ones will never be reduced to mere statistics,” Adeleke said.

Reports indicate at least 29 people died in election-related violence in Osun between October 2025 and August 15, with Ezekiel the youngest recorded victim.

Adeleke announced that the Osun State Government would establish a ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund to support verified victims and affected families.

He said a Verification and Relief Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, would oversee “the transparent identification of victims and equitable distribution of support.”

Separately, he disclosed that the Adeleke family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, would provide full scholarships up to university level for the children and dependants of those who lost their lives in the electoral violence.

“This is not a political intervention. It is a humanitarian responsibility. No eligible victim will be excluded because of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status,” he said.

Adeleke stressed that the certificate was “not as a trophy or a weapon against anyone, but as a renewed contract” with the people.

“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 addressed both supporters and opponents, “To those who voted for me, I thank you. To those who voted for another candidate, I thank you for participating in our democracy. I remain Governor to all, and together we must place Osun State above politics.”

At a separate event, he said he had forgiven his political foes and would be “a governor for all,” urging them to “join hands with me to move the state forward.”

The governor pledged to continue advancing infrastructure, healthcare, education, workers’ welfare, youth empowerment and economic development “with accountability, inclusion, and transparency.”

“Today, we are grateful for victory, but sober in remembrance. Tomorrow, we return to work,” Adeleke said, asking God to “comfort every family that has suffered loss, heal the injured, bless our people and continue to bless the State of the Living Spring.”