- By Kamil Opeyemi
Governor Ademola Adeleke has invited monarchs and clerics to open the remodelled Government House, Okefia Osogbo saying the facility was derelict before its remodelling.
Adeleke had led top officials of government to officially open the Government House and offer prayer for its use.
Adeleke had governed the state since in about than one year and a half of his administration.
He had come under criticism by many who demanded he was not staying at the Government House.
The facility was built during the administration of former Governor Bisi Akande. It was occupied by others who served after him such as Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola.
A statement by Olawale Rashidi, spokesman to the Governor said the rehabilitation covers the main house, the completion of an abandoned multi-bedroom Guest House, remodelling of many of the structures, refixing of many derelict facilities and facelift of the entire Government House.
He said the governor was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; the House Speaker, Hon Adewale Egbedun; the Secretary to the State Government, Hon Teslim Igbalaye; the Chief of Staff, Hon Kazeem Akinleye and members of the State Executive Council, Governor Adeleke officially moved into the Government House amidst prayers and heavy rain across Osogbo.
“I have upgraded the Government House just as I rehabilitated the Governor’s office. We ensured the Government House is rescued from the open neglect we inherited. You can all see the upgraded facilities which now places our state in good stead in the comity of states.
“I met an abandoned Guest House where top dignitaries can be hosted instead of huge bills on outside accommodation. I ordered its rehabilitation and today it is completed. The presidential Lodge I met on the ground was in a terrible state. Our team fixed it.
“Our administration is passionate about upgrading state assets because they are for generations even yet unborn. We must act genuinely on the mantra that government is a continuum. Abandoning projects or state assets as Osun witnessed in recent past is a sign of bad leadership
“As our government is completing old projects and initiating new ones, we are also maintaining and upgrading the old structures, re-fixing them for effective usage of the state. “To the good people of Osun state, your Governor has moved into the Government House. I pledge to redouble our efforts at delivering on the five point agenda. We are truly fixated on sustaining the delivery of good governance”, the Governor was quoted as saying.
Present at the event was the Orangun of Oke Ila, HRH, Oba Dokun Abolarin.