Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has inaugurated the newly elected local government chairmen and councillors.
Gatekeepers News reports that the swearing-in ceremony in Osogbo, the state capital on Sunday.
Adeleke urged the officials to prioritise good governance and cautioned against any attempts to forcibly occupy council secretariats.
He said, “are here to conclude a democratic process for which we all laboured so hard to achieve.”
The Governor called for a moment of silence in honour of those who died during the “illegal APC takeover of local government secretariats.”
He noted that the election followed due process, saying, “The state electoral body had issued due notice of election a year ago. I know the commission had complied with all extant rules and procedures which led to the emergence of new local government chairmen and councillors.”
While acknowledging legal controversies surrounding the election, the Governor affirmed that his administration acted within the law.
He said, “It is, however, a thing of joy that the facts are out in the public domain, and we are satisfied that we are on the side of the law within the context of the rule of law and the constitution.”
Adeleke charged the newly sworn-in officials to be “agents of change, community developers, and deliverers of the dividends of democracy.”
He urged them to “develop plans of action within the manifesto of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)” and to be “agents of change” as his government transforms the state.
Adeleke thanked the people of Osun for their support, promising, “Osun people demonstrated courage and passion to exercise their voting rights…We will not fail you. People’s welfare will continue to be our watchword.”
The Governor also commended OSIEC, security agencies, and state officials for their roles in the election’s success.
Adeleke further thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu saying, “I should not end this address without acknowledging the contributions of Mr. President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am most grateful to Mr. President for rejecting efforts by some forces to plunge Osun into chaos.”
The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law and the constitution and cautioned the new officials against confrontations at secretariats.
He said, “I urge you and your councillors to please stay away from the council secretariats to avoid any clash with those whom the police had aided to forcefully occupy the local government secretariats.”
He assured that the judiciary would handle the removal of those illegally occupying the secretariats.
Declaring the swearing-in of the elected local government officials, he said, “It is on this note that I, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State, hereby effect the swearing-in of elected local government chairmen across Osun State. Congratulations and God bless you.”
