AWARD OF N678M SANGO SHRINE CONTRACT IN EDE: *You're Guilty Of Favouritism, Misplaced Priority.. - Osun APC Knocks Adeleke

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the ruling administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke of being clever by half by hurriedly using the approval of some historical shrines in the state to legitimise the controversial award of N678 million to reconstruct the Sango-Timi Shrine and Grove at Timi's Palace in Ede, his hometown.

It would be recalled that the administration of Governor Adeleke has been facing series of backlash both from within and outside the state for his poor priority in the public office to have awarded such a multi-million naira contract for the construction of a Sango Shrine in his home town to the detriment of other pressing programmes that could positively touch the lives of the people of the state.

There is a potent justification for the people of the state who have been complaining in hush tones and accusing the governor of being grossly guilty of misplacement of priority and favouritism.

Why was it that it was after the governor's award of the N678 million contract for the construction of the Sango Shrine in his town received a wide condemnation that he thought of naming other historical tourist attraction sites across the state to be developed in phases?

The ploy has refused to fly because it is a glaring insult on the sensibility of the people of this state as it is a mere product of an afterthought skillfully devised to deceive the ever-vigilant and forward-looking people of the state.

The development has further raised questions about the fiscal priorities of the Osun State Government and fairness in governance as there is no cogent reason under the sun why a serious government would opt for the prioritization of a project which has no economic value or advantage for either the people of the ancient town in particular or the state in general.

Those who are thinking for the glaringly rudderless administration of Governor Adeleke should cover their faces in shame for having allowed the contemplation and final approval of such a project that is grossly lacking in economic importance or value to the detriment of even development of the state.

Any one who is in abundant possession of conscience has a genuine reason to be visibly worried that the amount allocated to this shrine project is almost double the ₦376 million released by the government as Education Subsidy in the first half of the year, as shown on page 42 of the state’s Budget Implementation Report for the second quarter of 2025.

What a hell do Governor Adeleke and his cohorts tend to achieve by approving such a collosal amount of money to a community shrine of his town moreso when it is obvious that the many promises the governor made to the state workers remain unfulfilled like the ₦6 billion budgeted for Gratuity Arrears payment in 2025, which no funds had been released as at the end of the second quarter?

For gratuity payments, only ₦500 million, just 11.1 per cent of the ₦4.5 billion budgeted, has been disbursed while the Contributory Pension Scheme is also poorly funded, with only ₦998 million, representing 14.3 per cent of the ₦7 billion planned, released so far this year.

Governor Adeleke has repeatedly been accused of concentrating development efforts in his hometown of Ede, often at the expense of other major towns. In 2025 alone, seven road projects, valued at over ₦70 billion, have been awarded for dualisation in Ede.

Meanwhile, numerous infrastructure projects in other towns such as Ife, Osogbo, and Ilesa remain uncompleted, nearly two years after being awarded.

It would be recalled that in October 2023, Governor Adeleke announced an 'ambitious' plan to complete five flyovers within 12 months. Almost two years later, none of the projects, two in Osogbo and one in Ife, has been completed. While two of the five have not even taken off.

If the shrine project in Ede is intended to promote tourism and preserve cultural heritage, one must ask: Why was Ede alone considered for the first phase?

e-SIGNED:

Mogaji KOLA OLABISI, Osun State APC Director of Media and Information

Support US @ KAKAKIOODUA Online Media Services for better performance, integrity and credibility

We are dedicated to delivering on-the-spot coverage and this requires a lot of expenses.

We value your readership as we extend our tentacles to national and international daily news updates, in-depth investigations into pressing local and national issues, or political and entertaining trending stories.

It’s essential to acknowledge that news production and on-the-spot coverage incur expenses as we plan to multiply our efforts.

Would you consider supporting us with a modest contribution?

Send your tokens to;