By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has refuted claims that he appointed his daughter and uncle as commissioners in the state.
The governor had forwarded a list of 25 Commissioner and Special Adviser nominees to the state House of Assembly which was unveiled on Friday.
The Speaker of the parliament, Adewale Egbedun reeled out the list on Friday including two nominees who have their surnames as Adeleke.
Speculations are being circulated that Governor Adeleke appointed his daughter and one of his uncles as Commissioner nominees shortly after the list was made public.
Some quarters disclosed that two of the nominees are the daughter and uncle of the governor which has triggered reactions amongst the public sphere.
But, in a statement issued by Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to the state governor, said there was no truth in the report that he appointed his daughter or uncle as part of his cabinet members.
The statement read, “The attention of Governor Ademola Adeleke has been drawn to a fake news alleging that the State Chief Executive has appointed his supposed daughter in person of Adenike Folasade Adeleke and his alleged uncle, Prof Maroof Adeleke into the state cabinet.
“There is no truth whatsoever in the report as neither of the two nominees are daughter or uncle of the Governor. 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 can not 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.”
