TEXT OF AN ADDRESS BY H.E., GOVERNOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE AT THE INAUGURATION OF NEWLY ELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN TODAY FEBRUARY 23RD, 2025
PROTOCOLS
It is with gratitude to God, the good people of Osun state and all lovers of democracy that I welcome you all to this landmark occasion. We are here to conclude a democratic process for which we all laboured so hard to achieve.
Before we proceed, let us rise for a minute of silence for victims of illegal APC take over of local government secretariats. May their souls rest in perfect peace.
We are all aware of the journey to where we are. The state is today rounding up a process that started a year or so ago. The state electoral body had issued due notice of election a year ago. I know the commission had complied with all extant rules and procedures which led to the emergence of new local government chairmen and councillors.
We are equally aware of the legal controversies that dogged the holding of the election. It is however a thing of joy that the facts are out in the public domain and we are satisfied that we are on the side of the law within the context of rule of law and the constitution.
I congratulate all newly elected council chairmen and councillors. You have the mandate to deliver on good governance in your respective local governments. I charge you to develop plans of action within the manifesto of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As our government is transforming the state for the better, I call on you to be agents of change, community developer and deliverer of dividends of democracy.
To the good people of Osun state, I use this occasion to express my gratitude for your steadfast support for our administration. Osun people demonstrated courage and passion to exercise their voting rights and they did so by massively supporting our party despite all the constraints. We will not fail you. People’s welfare will continue to be our watchword.
Our thanks also goes to the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission for discharging its mandate professionally and with all sense of responsibilities. We also commend security agencies and state officials who made the election a reality.
I should not end this address without acknowledging the contributions of Mr President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am most grateful to Mr President for rejecting efforts by some forces to plunge Osun into chaos. I assure Mr President of our commitment to the rule of law and the constitution for conflict resolution and governance process.
Finally, I urge you and your councilors to please stay away from the council secretariats to avoid any clash with those whom the police had aided to forcefully occupy the local government secretariats. An Osun State High Court had affirmed the vacancies in both the Chairman and Councilors positions in all of Osun State Local Governments before your election on the 22nd February 2025. We will, therefore, rely on the judiciary to ensure a peaceful removal of those illegally occupying the local government secretariats.
Please be patient and always abide by the rule of law
It is on this note that I , Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State, hereby effect the swearing in of elected local government chairmen across Osun state.
Congratulations and God bless you.
HE, Senator Ademola Adeleke,
Executive Governor of Osun State.
