ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has denied allegations that he nominated his biological daughter and uncle as cabinet members in the state.
The list of the cabinet nominees for the State was publicly announced on Friday 7 July, 2023, by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.
Among the nominees is Mrs. Adenike Folasade Adeleke, the wife of the late elder brother of Governor Adeleke, Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
Isiaka Adeleke was the first executive Governor of Osun State and a three term senator representing Osun West Senatorial District. He died in April, 2017.
Also among the nominees is Professor Maroof Adeleke who is not in any way related to the Governor.
Governor Adeleke in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, maintained that there is no truth in the report as none of the two nominees is his daughter and uncle.
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“Prof Adeleke was born at Ilesa and hails from Osogbo, the state capital. Mrs Adeleke is the daughter of Chief Omidiran of Osogbo Land and wife of the late Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke.
“We had expected those pushing the fake news to engage in basic investigative journalism if they have any altruistic motive. If however the goal is to malign the state Governor, the truth cannot be hidden as the nominees are bona-fide indigenes of Osogbo land.
“We therefore urge members of the public to ignore those merchants of fake news. No biological member of the Governor’s family is included in the cabinet list. Governor Adeleke is committed to fair distribution of appointments based on competency, spread and sectoral representation.”