Osun Governor Dismisses Claims of State Involvement in N1Billion Church Donation

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has categorically denied any connection between the state government and the donation of N1 billion to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church by his elder brother, Deji Adeleke.

The governor clarified that the substantial donation, which has sparked controversy, was a private philanthropic gesture by his brother, a well-known business magnate, and had no ties to the state’s finances.

In response to accusations from the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Adeleke, through his spokesperson, firmly refuted allegations that the donation was made by him or funded by the state’s treasury.

The APC had criticised the donation, questioning its appropriateness at a time when Osun State is grappling with significant financial challenges.

Tajudeen Lawal, the state APC chairman, had suggested that such a large sum could have been better utilised to address pressing needs within the state.

Governor Adeleke’s statement emphasised that the donation was entirely the decision of Dr. Deji Adeleke and was not related to any government funds. “The donation was made by my brother in his personal capacity, and it was not sourced from Osun State’s treasury,” the governor declared.

He further criticised the APC for what he described as a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation, highlighting that the event was globally live-streamed, leaving no room for the fabrications being peddled by the opposition.

The governor also took the opportunity to remind the public of Dr. Deji Adeleke’s long history of philanthropy, noting that his brother had made significant contributions to various causes, including donations to the Osun State government during the COVID-19 pandemic under the previous administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola. “Dr. Adeleke made substantial donations to the state during the COVID crisis when Governor Oyetola was in office.

Was I the governor then?” he queried, pointing out the absurdity of the APC’s claims.

Moreover, Dr. Adeleke had also extended his philanthropic efforts to the Federal Government during the same period, demonstrating his commitment to public welfare regardless of political affiliations.

The governor highlighted that during these instances, neither he nor the state government had any involvement, underscoring the independent nature of his brother’s charitable work. “At the event in Lagos, neither the state government nor I made any donation.

The only contribution came from Dr. Adeleke, who has consistently supported both APC and non-APC governments in the past,” Governor Adeleke reiterated.

Addressing the religious angle introduced by the APC, Governor Adeleke dismissed attempts to portray the donation as a religiously motivated act, intended to favour the Christian community.

He assured that his administration has been fair and inclusive, noting that the Muslim community in Osun State has seen more benefits under his leadership than during the previous APC government. “The Osun APC’s attempts to play the religious card have fallen flat.

The Muslim community knows that it has gained more from my administration than under the previous government,” he asserted.

Governor Adeleke also highlighted the opposition’s growing desperation, citing their unfounded criticisms of the state’s ongoing infrastructure projects.

He referenced the recent validation of these projects by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), which had also conducted similar assessments in other states governed by the APC, including Lagos and Ogun.

“The opposition, in shock over the validation of our projects by credible and professional bodies like COREN and NSE, has resorted to baseless attacks.

These same bodies have evaluated projects in APC-led states, yet they now choose to criticise them only when it involves Osun,” the governor pointed out.

In his concluding remarks, Governor Adeleke sought to put an end to the controversy, reiterating that neither he nor the state government had any involvement in the N1 billion donation.

He reaffirmed that the funds were not drawn from public coffers and urged the public to disregard the misinformation being spread by political opponents.

“We reiterate that the N1 billion donation to the Lagos church was neither made by the state government nor funded by state resources.

The philanthropist, Dr. Deji Adeleke, who made the donation, has a history of making even larger contributions, including to APC governments in the past,” the governor stated.

Governor Adeleke called on the people of Osun State to focus on the progress being made by his administration and to ignore what he described as the “fake news merchants” within the opposition.

His administration, he assured, remains committed to the development and welfare of all residents, irrespective of political or religious affiliations.