Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after securing victory in the August 15 governorship election, while announcing a N500 million fund for victims of electoral violence.
The certificate was presented to Adeleke by INEC National Commissioner for the South-West, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, at a ceremony attended by members of the state executive council, political associates and other supporters.
Adeleke was declared the winner of the election after polling 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who recorded 444,815 votes.
Following the presentation, the governor said the victory represented the collective effort of the people of Osun State and those who participated in the electoral process.
He also turned attention to the violence recorded before and during the election, saying his administration would provide assistance to families affected by the incidents.
As part of the plan, the state government will establish a N500 million endowment fund for verified victims and families affected by election-related violence. A committee headed by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, will handle the identification of victims and distribution of assistance.
Adeleke also announced that his family, through the Springtime Development Foundation, would offer scholarships through university level to children and dependants of people who died in connection with the election violence.
The governor said the support would be available to eligible victims regardless of their political party, religion, ethnicity, gender or social background.
Meanwhile, tension erupted later in Osogbo after gunshots were heard around the palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo during a confrontation involving suspected hoodlums.
The incident occurred shortly after Adeleke visited the monarch, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, at the palace. The governor had arrived with a convoy of about 20 vehicles after collecting his Certificate of Return at the Osun State INEC office.
According to the police, the trouble started after the visit when a suspected thug, identified as Adebayo Taoreed, popularly called Small Rugged, allegedly attempted to approach Afrobeat singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who accompanied the governor.
Security personnel reportedly stopped the man, leading to a confrontation that attracted other suspected gang members around the palace.
The situation disrupted movement around the palace before the governor’s convoy eventually left the area.
Shortly afterwards, police said suspected gang members allegedly shot a 60-year-old resident, Tajudeen Yusuf, around the Itaolokan area of Osogbo.
Yusuf was taken to the University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo after sustaining gunshot injuries but was later pronounced dead by doctors.
The Osun State Police Command has since opened an investigation and begun efforts to identify and arrest those suspected to be involved in the killing.
The incident caused fear in the area, with several traders and business owners reportedly closing their shops as gunshots were heard.
Davido later clarified that the confrontation happened outside the palace and was not connected to him or the governor.
The police said they would continue investigating the incident and called on residents with useful information to assist the authorities while urging the public to remain calm.
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