Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has unveiled a N500 million endowment fund for victims of violence recorded in the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Adeleke made the announcement on Wednesday while receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission following his re-election.
According to his Special Assistant on Digital Media, Olalekan Badmu, the fund was created by the Osun State Government in memory of those who lost their lives during the pre-election violence.
Badmu also said the Adeleke family would sponsor the education of children whose parents died in the violence, providing full scholarships through university level.
He added that 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.
The Daily Beam, which reported details of the governor’s remarks at the event, quoted Adeleke as saying the initiative would be strictly humanitarian and not politically motivated.
“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,” the report stated.
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The governor also called on residents to put the election behind them and work towards reconciliation, assuring supporters of both his party and other political parties that he would govern the entire state.
“The election is over. The campaign is over. The contest is over. Now is the time to govern, unite, heal and build,” he said, according to The Daily Beam.
Adeleke further prayed for families who lost loved ones, wished those injured a speedy recovery and called for continued peace and development across the state.
The announcement followed Adeleke’s victory in the August 15 governorship election, where he secured 19 of Osun’s 30 local government areas.
The incumbent, who contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, defeated the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who won 11 local government areas.