OSOGBO, Nigeria – Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has dismissed allegations that the governor appointed his daughter and uncle into the state cabinet.
In a statement issued on Friday, July 7, 2023, Rasheed called out these claims as fake news.
“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.”
Rasheed emphasised that “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.
The spokesperson expressed disappointment at those circulating the false news, suggesting they should have conducted basic investigative journalism if they had altruistic motives.
If the goal was to smear the state governor, Rasheed stressed, the truth would not remain 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.” Rasheed concluded.
