About one year and four months after assuming office, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has relocated to the Okefia Government House, Osogbo, the official residence of the governor.
Adeleke was sworn in on Sunday, November 27, 2022. Initially, he chose to reside in his private house in Ede, a neighboring town to Osogbo, despite criticisms from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) who accused him of neglecting the Government House.
Responding to the criticism, Adeleke’s spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, announced on Sunday that the renovation of the Government House had been completed, and Adeleke had finally moved in.
The rehabilitation work included refurbishing the main house, completing an abandoned multi-bedroom guest house, remodeling various structures, and repairing derelict facilities.
During the unveiling of the renovated Government House, attended by top state officials, Adeleke emphasized his administration’s commitment to upgrading state assets, whether inherited or initiated by him.
He stated, “I have upgraded the Government House just as I rehabilitated the Governor’s Office. We ensured the Government House was rescued from the open neglect we inherited. You can all see the upgraded facilities which now place our state in good stead in the comity of states.”
Adeleke further noted his administration’s determination not only to complete inherited projects but also to initiate new ones, emphasizing the importance of delivering good governance to the people of Osun State.
However, Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, criticized the renovation, labeling it a misplaced priority. He argued that while other governors were focused on mitigating the effects of the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy, Adeleke celebrated an initiative that would not positively impact the people of the state.
Lawal emphasized that the rehabilitation of the Government House, which had already been upgraded during the tenure of the immediate-past Governor Gboyega Oyetola, was unnecessary and wasteful.