Adeleke Opens Reconciliation Talks With Osun’s Political Heavyweights, Calls Oyetola, Oyebamiji

Adeleke Opens Reconciliation Talks With Osun’s Political Heavyweights, Calls Oyetola, Oyebamiji

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, has opened a fresh reconciliation drive with the state’s political heavyweights, reaching out to former governors and opposition figures as part of efforts to heal political wounds following the recently concluded governorship election.

The Governor’s latest peace initiative came as Osun marked its 35th anniversary, with Adeleke reaching out to former Governor and former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, to discuss the need for post-election reconciliation and the restoration of political interaction among the state’s leadership.

Adeleke reportedly spoke at length with Akande, briefing him on the reconciliation measures already initiated by his administration and seeking the support of political leaders for a broader peace agenda and the unification of a state deeply divided by pre-election tensions and violence.

The Governor also spoke with former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Rauf Aregbesola, congratulating them on the anniversary of Osun State and sharing his desire to reconcile political groups across the state.

In a further demonstration of his outreach across political lines, Adeleke also called former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the APC governorship candidate, Mr Bola Oyebamiji.

However, there was no response to the calls from Oyetola and Oyebamiji as at the time of filing this report.

Adeleke: “There Is No Victor, No Vanquished”

Explaining the purpose of his calls, Governor Adeleke said the 35th anniversary offered an opportunity to appreciate the contributions of former leaders while opening a new chapter of peace and reconciliation.

“We are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the creation of our dear state. So, it is customary that I felicitate with leaders from various groups. I commended them for their contributions to state developments.”

He said his central message was a call for political leaders to move beyond the election and focus on healing and governance.

“Then, my central message is to preach and act for peace and reconciliation. I repeated my earlier statement that there is no victor, no vanquished. Election has come and gone and it is time for us to return to governance and healing of electoral wounds.”

The Governor also disclosed that his peace-building efforts followed a request from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he champion peace-building and state reconciliation.

“I am conscious of the request of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that I should champion peace building and state reconciliation. That is my preoccupation as reflected in my state address and that is my appeal to my predecessors and even my fellow contestants in the last guber election.”

Adeleke said the state’s political leaders must unite their people and create the conditions necessary for residents to enjoy democracy and sustained development.

“We must unite our people and prepare an enabling environment for them to enjoy the dividends of democracy and continuous delivery of good governance. I will not stop in my peace drive to sustain development. This is a sacred task I am passionately committed to.”

The reconciliation initiative comes shortly after the Governor’s 35th anniversary state broadcast, in which he pledged to heal the wounds of the recent election, unite the people and govern with equity and fairness.

The latest outreach has therefore positioned Adeleke’s post-election agenda around reconciliation, with the Governor extending an olive branch to political figures across party lines while calling for the state’s political class to return its focus to governance and development.

Source: Office of Spokesperson to Osun State Governor | Mallam Olawale Rasheed