Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has apologised to the people of Iwo over remarks he made while explaining the rationale behind the ongoing Iwo Dualisation Road project.
The apology was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, who said the governor did not intend to disrespect the people of Iwo.
Governor Adeleke had, during a Democracy Day interview on Western Spring Television, dismissed claims that his administration was concentrating projects in Ede and cited the Iwo Dualisation Road as one of the major projects being executed outside his hometown.
While speaking on the project, the governor said Iwo lacked visible development and was “like a village,” adding that he approved the road project partly as people often criticised and insulted his spokesperson, who hails from Iwo, over the perceived lack of government presence in the town.
Reacting to the controversy generated by the comment, Rasheed said opposition elements had twisted and misrepresented what he described as a sarcastic remark by the governor.
According to him, Governor Adeleke has deep respect for the people of Iwo and would never deliberately refer to the town as a village.
He said the governor’s position was that Iwo had not received its rightful share of development under previous administrations, a situation his government is working to reverse through infrastructure projects and other interventions.
Rasheed stated that Adeleke remains committed to upgrading Iwo to its rightful status as a senatorial headquarters and expanding development across all parts of Osun State.
The governor’s spokesperson also extended an unreserved apology to the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, the Oluwo-in-Council, community groups, religious bodies, youth organisations and all indigenes of Iwo at home and in the diaspora.
He maintained that Governor Adeleke’s administration has positively impacted Iwo and remains committed to the town’s continued development.
The statement reads, “I write to affirm that Governor Adeleke has deep respect for Iwo people and he has not and will not disrespect a people he is so much dearly in love with.
“Mr Governor did not and will never call Iwo a village. His passion to upgrade Iwo to its rightful status as a senatorial headquarters is unrivalled.
“To our father, the highly revered Oluwo of Iwoland; the Oluwo in Council; the Iwo Board of Trustees, the Iwo Action Council, the Isokan Musulumi; the Iwo muslim and christian bodies; the Isese association and the Awos; the youth and students bodies; and Iwo sons and daughters at home and in the disapora, His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke tenders unreserved apology for his sarcasm which opposition elements have twisted and misrepresented.
“Mr Governor did not call Iwo a village; Iwo is Mr Governor’s second home right from the days of his late brother, the first executive governor of Osun state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke who was also a deep lover of Iwo people.
“The governor’s contention was that Iwo has not been granted its rightful place by previous administrations, a situation he is reversing. His Excellency also restated his determination to continue the infra expansion, not just for Iwo but for all corners of Osun state.
“As a son of the soil, I also profusely apologise to our Royal father and all Iwo sons and daughters
“For those seeking political capital out of the sarcasm, I bet they pick a wrong point.
“The reality remains that Governor Adeleke has positively impacted Iwo more than any previous administration.
“The facts are open and incontestable. Iwo is moving forward rather than backward”