Adeleke sworn in as 6th Governor, freezes Osun’s accounts, Osun State replaces ‘State of Osun’
Ademola Adeleke has been sworn in Sunday as the sixth Governor of the State in Osogbo the State capital.
And shortly after he was sworn in he directed all the operational bank accounts of the State to be frozen till further notice.
He also reversed policies introduced by the former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and vowed to review all appointments made by his predecessor, Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola since July 17th, 2022 when he lost the Osun State governorship election.
Specifically, he gave an Executive Order to reverse the policies of Aregbesola, which recognised Osun State as State of Osun.
Senator Ademola Adeleke, who was sworn in at the Osogbo Township Stadium promised to deliver all his campaign promises.
According to him: “Under my watch, I will correct past injustices, corrupt acts or policies by previous administrations which are against the collective interest of our people.”
He also announced that the slogan of the State will no longer be ‘State of Virtue’ but ‘State of Living Spring’.
In his inauguration address delivered on Sunday, November 27 shortly after signing his oath of office, the governor read:
”Today, I stand on the podium of history with a sacred pledge to God and the good people of Osun State that my intellect, passion and strength will be devoted to nothing but the welfare, peace, and security of our people.
”As I accept the mantle of leadership entrusted upon me by the people of our dear State, I am conscious of the enormous challenges and responsibilities ahead of me and will begin from this hour work day and night with deep sense of purpose to be a servant to you all.
”I am well aware of the fact that my responsibility as the Governor and Chief Security Officer of Osun State entails meeting the legitimate expectations of our people.
”Therefore, I promise that those expectations of the workers, traders, artisans, farmers, business owners, students, pensioners, traditional and religious leaders and indeed all residents of Osun State will be met by the grace of God and the cooperation of everyone.
”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.
”Our administration will demonstrate a high sense of urgency, transparency, justice, and innovation to tackle and solve the problems of poverty, illiteracy, disease, and poor infrastructure.
”Your Governor will be a people’s Governor. I will be accessible, responsive, consultative, and proactive in handling small and big matters of State Governance.
”My Good People of Osun, since you elected me as your Governor on the 16th of July 2022, which the INEC announced on July 17th, 2022, the former Governor, Alh Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola maliciously started putting roadblocks to make things difficult, and almost impossible for the new administration to serve you.
”Mass employment was carried out without budgetary provisions for salary payments for the new employees; even when the state was struggling to pay salaries and deliver other services.
”Various hurried and criminally backdated Contracts were awarded and again without budgetary provisions.
”Appointments of several Obas were hurriedly done without following due process, just to mention a few.
”All efforts to get the Governor set up a Transition Committee and submit hand-over notes in line with best practices proved abortive.
”It is therefore my desire to ask for your patience and understanding to give my administration a few weeks to review and sort out all the actions and malicious confusions which the immediate past administration has created since July 17th, 2022.
”Those actions were indeed vindictive measures against the people of Osun State for voting them out of office.
”Consequently, I hereby issue the following directives which will be backed up with appropriate Executive orders:
”Immediate freezing of all government accounts in banks and other financial institutions
”Immediate establishment of a panel to carry out an inventory and recover all government assets
”An immediate establishment of a panel to review all appointments and major decisions of the immediate past administration taken after the 17th July 2022
”An immediate reversal to the constitutionally recognised name of our state, Osun State. All government insignia, correspondences, and signages should henceforth reflect the Osun state rather than the State of Osun which is unknown to the Nigerian constitution.
”Welcome to a new Osun State, The State of The Living Spring.
Thank you and God bless you all.”