Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has announced a N500m endowment fund for victims of pre-election violence in the state. Adeleke announced the fund on Wednesday while receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission after winning re-election.
The governor’s Special Assistant on Digital Media, Olalekan Badmu, said the Osun State Government created the fund to honour victims of violence recorded before the governorship election. Badmu also announced that the Adeleke family would provide full scholarships up to university level for children whose parents died in the violence.
Fund to support victims across party lines
According to Badmu, the beneficiaries will come from different political parties. He said a special committee would verify the victims and compile the list of beneficiaries. The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, will head the committee.
Badmu said:
“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.”
Adeleke also described the intervention as humanitarian rather than political. According to a report by The Daily Beam, he said eligible victims would receive support regardless 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 calls for unity after election
The governor also urged Osun residents to put the election behind them and unite for the development of the state. He said his administration would serve everyone, including residents who supported other candidates during the election.
“The election is over. The campaign is over. The contest is over. Now is the time to govern, unite, heal and build,” he said.
Adeleke also prayed for families affected by the violence and those who sustained injuries. He called for continued peace and development across Osun State. The announcement followed Adeleke’s victory in the August 15 governorship election. He defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, after winning 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas.
Read also: JUST IN: Adeleke Receives INEC Certificate of Return
