Commissioners’ list: Adeleke denies nominating daughter, uncle

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has refuted allegations that he nominated his biological daughter and uncle as cabinet members in the state.

On Friday, July 7, 2023, the list of the cabinet nominees for Osun State was publicly announced by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.

Among the nominees is Mrs Adenike Folasade Adeleke, the wife of the late elder brother of Governor Adeleke, Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.

The elder Adeleke was the first executive governor of Osun State and a three term senator representing Osun West Senatorial District who died in April, 2017.

Also among the nominees is Prof. Maroof Adeleke who is not in any way related to the governor.

In a statement signed by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor maintained that there is no truth in the report as none of the two nominees is his daughter and uncle.

“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 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 fair distribution of appointments based on competency, spread and sectoral representation.”

Immediately the list was made public by the Osun Assembly on Friday, some news outlets, reported that Adenike Folasade Adeleke is the daughter of the governor.