The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has come under attack by the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the ₦1 billion donation made by him and his siblings to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Lagos. Naija News recalls that last Sunday, Dr Deji Adeleke announced the donation in honour of the late Esther Adeleke, the matriarch of the Adeleke family, who was a distinguished member of the church throughout her life......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
This donation has sparked various reactions from individuals across the social spectrum, with many questioning the justification for such an act.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued by its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, APC criticized the governor for allocating such a significant amount when the state is experiencing financial challenges.
Lawal asserted that the donation of such a large sum for what he termed frivolous purposes is morally questionable.
He emphasized that while the APC does not oppose the support of religious organizations by individuals or groups, it is essential that such contributions are made with a sense of decency.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the timing of the donation, while Adeleke remains the state’s chief executive, raises concerns among discerning members of the public who may perceive the funds as being drawn from the collective resources of Osun State.
Lawal remarked that it would be of interest to the citizens, who are the rightful owners of the state’s finances, to understand why the Adeleke siblings chose this moment during the governor’s tenure to donate to their late mother’s church.
He concluded by suggesting that this situation indicates either a lack of competent advisers for Governor Adeleke or a refusal to heed the counsel of his numerous advisers, as he currently holds the record for having the highest number of Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants in Nigeria.
“It won’t be an overstatement to state that it was from the scarce resources of the Osun State fund that Governor Adeleke used as a mega donation in the remembrance of his mother in a church in Lagos.
“We, as a party, are not objecting to the extension of a helping hand to religious houses by either individuals, corporate bodies or political functionaries but it is our candid view that decency and morality should not be sacrificed on the altar of charity.
“While we consider it needless to comment on the overburdened queer manner of the governor’s comportment in the public which is at variance with his exalted position as number one citizen in Osun State, Governor Adeleke would save us the collective shame of wriggling his frame at the striking of two objects just the way he did at the Cherubim and Seraphim Church where he went to on his donation spree at a time he is yet to state any convincing statement on the ₦70,000.00 minimum wage for government workers in the state as approved by the Federal Government,” the Osun State APC chairman added.