Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has announced the establishment of a N500 million endowment fund for victims of pre-election violence in the state.
Adeleke announced the initiative on Wednesday while receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
According to the governor’s Special Assistant on Digital Media, Olalekan Badmus, the fund was established by the Osun State Government in honour of victims of violence recorded in the build-up to the election.
Badmu also disclosed that the Adeleke family would provide full scholarships up to university level for the children of people who lost their lives during the violence.
He said the beneficiaries would be selected irrespective of their political affiliations.
“The Osun State Government establishes 500 million naira endowment fund in honour of victims of pre-election violence in Osun State.
“Adeleke family offers full scholarships to children of deceased up to University level. Victims are to cut across party lines.
“The verification and compilation will be done by a special committee to be headed by Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun,” Badmu wrote in a social media post.
Adeleke promises non-partisan intervention
The governor also stressed that the intervention was humanitarian rather than political, assuring that eligible victims would not be discriminated against because of their political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status.
“This is not a political intervention. It is a humanitarian responsibility. No eligible victim will be excluded because of political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, gender or social status. In grief, there is no political party. In our common humanity, we are one people,” Adeleke said, according to a report by The Daily Beam.
He also called on residents to put the election behind them and work towards rebuilding unity across the state.
“The election is over. The campaign is over. The contest is over. Now is the time to govern, unite, heal and build,” the governor said.
Adeleke further prayed for the families of those who died during the violence and expressed hope for the recovery of those who sustained injuries.
He also called for continued peace and development across Osun State as his administration begins another term in office.
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The announcement comes after Adeleke was declared the winner of the August 15 Osun governorship election.
The incumbent governor, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured victory in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.
His closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), won in 11 local government areas.
Adeleke’s decision to establish the endowment fund and offer scholarships to the children of victims comes amid renewed calls for reconciliation following the election.
The initiative is also expected to provide assistance to families affected by violence during the electoral period, while the proposed verification committee will be responsible for identifying eligible beneficiaries.
By extending the intervention across party lines, the governor said his administration was seeking to draw a distinction between political competition and the humanitarian consequences of election-related violence.
The governor’s call for unity comes as political parties and their supporters begin to move beyond the election campaign, with attention shifting towards governance and the implementation of policies for the people of Osun State.
