Adeleke’s Appointment of Nephew, Davido as Osun Sports Trust Fund Chair, Misplacement of Priority, Nepotism Taken too far

By Waheed Adekunle

Honestly, one doesn’t need parameters to measure and know the extent of nepotism, chauvinism, jingoism and unchecked clannishness that characterised and defined the Governor Adeleke’s government in Osun State since assumption of office.

Upon inauguration in November, 2022, Governor Adeleke couldn’t hold back his nepotic tendencies and penchant preference for his immediate family and kinsmen in Ede to dominate the affairs of the State as manifested in the appointments, recruitment exercise and projects implementation thus far.

The first unjust step taken by the Governor was the appointment of Ede -born politician and erstwhile Council Chair, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye as the Chief of Staff – a sensitive office that is as large as office of the Governor itself. Sequel to this, Governor Adeleke revoked the appointment letters issued to the already dissolved Permanent Secretaries appointed by his predecessor – Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, with obnoxious Executive Order deliberately concocted to undo all Oyetola did just to satisfy his quest for vengeance and vendetta.

Shortly after the dissolution of the Permanent Secretaries, Governor Adeleke went ahead to appoint fresh Permanent Secretaries dominated by Ede indigenes in order to justify his nepotic tendencies. Nothing less than 8 permanent secretaries were made to the top of their careers from Ede at the detriment of more capable hands that hailed from other places. As of today, Ede is the only town in Osun that can boast of more than eight PS in the civil service at the expense of other towns and cities in the state.

One would have thought it was all, the shocker was made when Governor Adeleke constituted his cabinet which was populated by Adelekes, other Ede indigenes and those connected to the dynasty. As of today, Ede is the only town in Osun that has more cabinet members than others. While it is at the prerogative of the Governor to appoint cabinet, the hidden motive was the personality appointed and motive for the appointment.

Though the incumbent government failed to make public or publish the profile of the cabinet members before they were appointed, a gross violation of administrative convention. It is in public glare that the Governor knew the intent to populate the cabinet with relations.

The worst part of it was the appointment of the wife of Governor Adeleke’s elder brother, late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, of blessed memory, who was made a Commissioner under Governor Ademola Adeleke’s government. In the same vein, Governor Adeleke appointed, a fresh graduate son of his late elder brother, to head a sensitive and skilled- driven position – Chairman Local Government Service Commission. As of today, Ede’s sons and daughters dominate the administration as if there is no other town or no one has governed Osun without such mentality.

Is it PS, is it cabinet members, is it non-cabinet members, is it Special Advisers, is it Senior Special Assistants, is it Special Assistants, is it Media Assistants, mention it, Ede took the largest chunk and lion share in the entire scheme of things under Governor Ademola Adeleke’s government.

Osun state as an entity has become an orphan that has no fair treatment as seen in the sharing formula. Today, more than 50 percent of infrastructural developments meant for Osun as an entity is channeled to advance Ede’s cause whereas other towns and cities are crying for resuscitation and attention.

Recently, the Governor approved the construction of four major dual carriage roads in Ede alone as a political jamboree to complement all the already constructed and tarred roads in Ede town. One can easily feel the presence of government in Ede judging by the tarring of every nook and cranny of the ancient town by Adeleke.

However, the shocker released today was the pronouncement made by the Governor appointing his nephew, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido to head Osun Sports Trust Fund, this is not only a misplacement of priority but a gross nepotism taken too far. The appointment clearly showed gross incompetence in the Adeleke’s government and depicted the fact that Osun is now an entity being run by Ede, for Edes, no more, no less!

If not for palpable incompetence, one would have expected Osun government to see beyond nepotism and crave for competence, capability and capacity as yardstick to orchestrate good governance. If not for anything, Davido as a popular musician would have been better appointed and positioned as entertainment ambassador rather than sports advocate. That is where the competence misses. But i am not flabbergasted because no one can give what he or she doesn’t have. It is a question of competence, capacity and wherewithal.

As a graduate of Communication, i know for certainty that competence, capability, and capacity are crucial for good governance as they enable effective policy-making and implementation and as well ensuring government meet citizen needs and build trust.

Capacity to me, remains a veritable tool that defines government ability to achieve goals and it is encompassing resources and structures as well as the accumulation of abilities and skills needed to perform functions which is prerequisite to much desired good governance. All these are lacking in the current administration in Osun. This is not new, even within the cabinet portfolios, misplacement reigned supreme.

Today, a legal practitioner is saddled with health sector that os why the government had failed woefully to provide much desired change in the health sector. It has been pragmatically observed that misfits reign supreme across sectors and this has been the bane of development in the state.

Citizens are watching no doubt and posterity awaits everyone.

May God heal our land!