Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, has denied claims that he nominated his biological daughter and uncle as cabinet members.
Politics Nigeria recalls that Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, had announced the list of commissioner nominees to the public on Friday, July 7.
Making it to the nominees list is Mrs Adenike Folasade Adeleke, wife of the late elder brother of Governor Adeleke, Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
The late elder Adeleke was the first executive governor of of the state and a three-term senator representing Osun West Senatorial District who died in 2017.
Also among the nominees is Prof. Maroon Adeleke, who is not related to the governor in any way.
In a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke described the reports as misleading.
“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,” he said.
“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 a fair distribution of appointments based on competency, spread and sectoral representation.”
