By Ayo Kehinde
Osun State Governor and Accord Party governorship candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has declared that his administration will not succumb to intimidation, as he rejected the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) allegation that it is investigating the alleged diversion of N11 billion belonging to the state.
The governor’s defiant stance came as political tension continued to mount ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with the Osun State Government accusing the anti-graft agency of attempting to justify what it described as the unlawful freezing of the state’s statutory allocation account through “false and unfounded allegations.”
In a series of posts on his verified X handle on Thursday, Adeleke said the massive turnout that greeted his campaign team in Ayedaade Local Government Area reflected the determination of the people to defend their democratic choice despite what he called repeated acts of provocation.
“Yesterday in Ayedaade, our campaign team was welcomed by a massive crowd of party members and supporters. The electrifying atmosphere once again reaffirmed our people’s unwavering resolve and commitment to our continuity agenda,” the governor wrote.
According to him, the people of Osun had continued to demonstrate resilience despite mounting political pressure.
“Our people continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience in the face of repeated provocations. Let me state it clearly once again: we will resist, through lawful and democratic means, any attempt to undermine the will of the great people of Osun State. We will not bow to intimidation, regardless of where it comes from,” he stated.
Adeleke maintained that the achievements of his administration across critical sectors of the economy remained the foundation of his campaign for another term in office.
“Our record in government speaks for itself. Across every sector, our achievements are visible, measurable, and widely acknowledged.
“We have raised the standard of governance in Osun State through people-centred policies, prudent management of public resources, and the delivery of impactful projects that continue to improve lives,” he added.
The governor also appealed to supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding throughout the election period.
“As we move closer to the election, I urge our supporters to remain peaceful, vigilant, and focused. The greatest response to intimidation is unity, discipline, and an overwhelming turnout at the polls. Together, by the grace of God, we will protect our mandate and continue building a greater Osun for all,” he said.
The governor’s remarks came a day after the EFCC defended its decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s account, saying it was investigating the alleged fraudulent handling of N11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds, and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.
The Commission had claimed that suspicious transfers from government accounts into several corporate accounts between August 2 and August 5 compelled it to impose a Post No Debit (PND) restriction to safeguard public funds.
However, the Osun State Government dismissed the allegation as “a failed attempt to cover up an illegal action through unfounded accusations.”
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, said the government insisted that no public funds had been looted and accused the EFCC of manufacturing allegations to justify its controversial decision.
“We don’t loot public funds in Osun State; we deliver public goods and services,” Alimi said.
According to him, every available resource belonging to the state had been channelled into infrastructure development, workers’ welfare, and sectoral programmes aimed at improving the lives of residents.
“There is no fund to loot in Osun State as the little resources we have are expended on the many mega projects, workers’ welfare, and sectoral developments for the benefit of the masses. We reject attempts to tarnish the image of our hardworking governor,” the statement added.
The commissioner alleged that the freezing of the state’s account was never about financial misconduct but was intended to frustrate the payment of palliatives approved for civil servants to cushion the impact of the country’s economic hardship.
He accused the EFCC of acting on the instance of former Osun State Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola.
According to Alimi, the Adeleke administration had already fulfilled its promise by paying the palliatives following negotiations with organised labour.
“Fortunately, we have paid the palliatives to all Osun State workers. The latest payment followed negotiations arising from workers’ requests to cushion the effect of the harsh economic climate. This was not the first time such a cost-of-living subsidy was paid to Osun workers,” he said.
The Commissioner further alleged that senior officials of the Adeleke administration had been subjected to repeated interrogations by the EFCC since March 2026 without any evidence of wrongdoing.
“The EFCC has been conducting a witch-hunting investigation since March 2026 without any incriminating evidence against top officials. Government officials are being harassed every week, all with the sole aim of distracting them from delivering good governance to the Osun population,” the statement said.
He also argued that Osun had earned national recognition for transparency in budgeting and public financial management, insisting that if the commission genuinely possessed evidence of financial crimes, it should follow due legal process instead of freezing government accounts.
“It is sad that a commission will lie to destroy the image of a state to cover up an illegal action that has backfired. This alibi from the Commission is an afterthought and it cannot stand the test of truth in reality and in the court of public opinion,” Alimi stated.
