Osun Election: Adeleke Unveils N500m Fund, University Scholarships for Electoral Violence Victims

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has announced a N500 million Election Violence Victims Endowment Fund and automatic university scholarships for children and dependants of people killed during the build-up to the August 15 governorship election.

Adeleke announced the measures on Wednesday at a celebration rally organised by the Osun labour movement, shortly after receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Under the scholarship scheme, the Adeleke family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, will provide educational support up to university level for children and dependants of victims of the electoral violence.

The governor said the N500 million fund would provide relief to verified victims and families whose lives, properties and livelihoods were affected by the violence.

A Verification and Relief Committee, chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, will oversee the identification of victims and distribution of assistance.

Adeleke stressed that the initiative was humanitarian rather than political, saying eligible beneficiaries would not be discriminated against based on political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status.

Receiving his certificate, the governor dedicated his victory to the people of Osun State and said he had forgiven political opponents and others who may have offended him during the election.

He also commended INEC for what he described as a professional conduct of the election, while appreciating security agencies for their role in maintaining peace on election day.

At the Ataoja Palace in Osogbo, Adeleke paid tribute to victims of the electoral violence, assuring their families that their losses would not be forgotten.

INEC National Commissioner for the Osun election, Kunle Ajayi, also commended voters for turning out despite concerns over violence.

INEC declared Adeleke the winner after he polled 511,067 votes to defeat APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes. ADC candidate Najeem Salaam received 17,180 votes.

Adeleke won 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11, securing the governor a second four-year term.