Public servants in Osun State on Thursday staged a large-scale appreciation rally in support of Governor Ademola Adeleke for what they described as his consistent care and commitment to workers’ welfare since assuming office in 2022.
The rally, which began as early as 8:00am, saw thousands of workers converging at the State Secretariat gate in Osogbo. They danced, sang, and carried placards expressing their solidarity with the governor.
When Governor Adeleke arrived at the Secretariat around 11:00am, the procession moved towards the Governor’s Office, with inscriptions such as “Osun Workers are solidly with you,” “Imole is 4+4,” and “Deep thanks to Imole” prominently displayed.
The Osun State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Christopher Arapasopo, reaffirmed the workers’ endorsement of the governor for a second term. He described Adeleke’s administration as “a workers’ government.”
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“We assemble here to thank you for all you do for workers. You are one of us as a leader who cares deeply for us. Let the whole world know that Osun workers remain firmly behind our Governor now and all the time,” Arapasopo said.
He added: “We reaffirm our endorsement of Mr Governor for a second term. Today we gather to reaffirm that support. We will not be intimidated to abandon good governance which our governor represents.”
The State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Bimbo Fasasi, echoed the NLC’s position, stating that Adeleke’s administration had consistently addressed workers’ needs. “We are totally with the Governor. We reject any attempt to drag Osun back to the evil past. We are out in show of force to affirm our backing for Mr Governor. See us in our thousands,” Fasasi declared.
Also lending his voice, the Osun State Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Comrade Kehinde Ogungbangbe, condemned alleged tampering with local government accounts.
He said replacing statutory signatories with members of the opposition was illegal and a violation of state finance laws.
“We are sending a message to the Ministers of Justice and Finance that Osun workers are with the Governor and the state government on the local government crisis. We are for the rule of law and our Governor is right before the law,” Ogungbangbe stressed.
He praised Adeleke for ensuring regular payment of salaries despite the reported seizure of local government allocations, warning that the opposition would have stopped payments if still in power.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Committee, Comrade Lekan Adediran, also declared the workforce’s collective backing for the governor.
“Osun workers are united in their endorsement of Governor Adeleke for a second term,” he stated.
Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina, who mobilised workers for the rally, expressed gratitude on behalf of the public service.
“Our labour leaders have spoken so passionately. We deeply commend your consistent support for the workforce. You are delivering dividends of democracy even for workers across the Ministries and agencies,” Aina noted.
Addressing the cheering crowd, Governor Adeleke described the demonstration as “a manifestation of true love and endorsement by Osun workers.”
“I am overwhelmed by your show of love since I took over in 2022. I reaffirm my support for workers’ welfare, the first item on my five-point agenda,” Adeleke said.
He urged workers to obtain their voter cards and mobilise their families to ensure continuity of governance.
“Expect more goodies and services. Let us sustain good governance now and in the future. Use your vote for continuity of responsive leadership and democratic dividends,” the governor declared.
The state workforce had previously endorsed Governor Adeleke for a second term during the 2025 May Day rally, reaffirming their commitment to his administration.
