By: Ismaeel Aleem
Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke has launched a fresh reconciliation drive with the state’s political heavyweights, reaching out to former governors and opposition figures in an effort to heal divisions after the recent governorship election.
The initiative coincided with Osun’s 35th anniversary celebrations. Adeleke contacted former governor and former APC national chairman Chief Bisi Akande to discuss post-election reconciliation and the restoration of constructive political engagement among the state’s leaders.
He briefed Akande on measures already taken by his administration and sought the backing of political figures for a broader peace agenda aimed at unifying a state marked by pre-election tensions and violence.
The governor also spoke with former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Rauf Aregbesola. He congratulated them on the anniversary and shared his desire to reconcile political groups across the state.
In a further cross-party outreach, Adeleke telephoned former governor Gboyega Oyetola and the APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji. Neither had responded by the time of this report.
"There is no victor, no vanquished”
Explaining the purpose of the calls, Adeleke said the 35th anniversary provided an opportunity recognise the contributions of former leaders while opening a new chapter of peace and reconciliation.
“We are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the creation of our dear state. So, it is customary that I felicitate with leaders from various groups. I commended them for their contributions to state developments,” he said.
His central message, he added, was a call for political leaders to move beyond the election and focus on healing and governance.
“Then, my central message is to preach and act for peace and reconciliation. I repeated my earlier statement that there is no victor, no vanquished. Election has come and gone and it is time for us to return to governance and healing of electoral wounds.”
Adeleke disclosed that his peace-building efforts followed a request from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he champion reconciliation in the state.
“I am conscious of the request of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that I should champion peace building and state reconciliation. That is my preoccupation as reflected in my state address and that is my appeal to my predecessors and even my fellow contestants in the last guber election.”
He stressed that political leaders must unite the people and create conditions for residents to enjoy the dividends of democracy and sustained development.
“We must unite our people and prepare an enabling environment for them to enjoy the dividends of democracy and continuous delivery of good governance.
I will not stop in my peace drive to sustain development. This is a sacred task I am passionately committed to.”
The outreach follows the governor’s 35th anniversary state broadcast, in which he pledged to heal the wounds of the recent election, unite the people and govern with equity and fairness.
The latest contacts position reconciliation at the centre of Adeleke’s post-election agenda, with an olive branch extended across party lines and a call for the political class to refocus on governance and development.