At New Year Prayers, Oyinlola, Clerics, Others Endorse Adeleke’s Second Term Bid

•I won’t abandon God, people, governor vows

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
 

It was mass endorsement for the second term of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State at the 2025 annual inter-religious prayers held yesterday at the Government Secretariat, Osogbo, the state capital.

The event, attended by top politicians, religious leaders, traditional rulers and workers of the state government witnessed several cycles of prayers for the governor, his team and the entire state for delivery of good governance beyond 2026.

One after the other, leading clerics rolled out the many good things happening to the state under the Adeleke administration and followed it up with fervent prayers to God for continuity of Adeleke governorship.

President of the League of Imams and Alfas in Osun state, Sheikh Musa Animasahun, who led other religious leaders declared that the good delivery of services by Adeleke has ordained him by God for second term, urging mass support for continuation of better life in Osun state.

The workers union led by the state Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Bimbo Fasasi Arapasopo openly endorsed him amid singing and dancing, citing his attention to the needs of workers and pensioners.

The market women and men in the state led by the Iyaloja General of Osun state, Chief Oyebode Mary in her prayers for the state conveyed the endorsement of the governor for second term, listing ease of doing business among other achievements.

A former governor of the state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in his remarks prayed to God to continue to strengthen the governor in his ongoing good performance, and drummed support for the administration.

The Okuku Prince repeated his earlier endorsement of the governor while featuring on a Rave FM interview, telling the audience at the prayer session that “nobody changes a medication and medicine that is working.

“Mr Governor’s medicine is working for Osun people. And so he will continue for a second term,” the former governor noted in the Yoruba language.

The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, while rounding off the session conducted a special prayer of empowerment and approval of all the individual prayers by the clerics, workers and others, seeking divine protection and enablement for the Governor and his team.

According to him, the performance of the governor was his best prayer, appreciating his dedication to duty and his listening and consultative approach to state governance.

“Only a clean heart dances. Where they dance, good things happen. Great things are happening to Osun and we are all rejoicing,” the Onirisa declared.

In his address, Adeleke pleaded never to abandon the path of God and the interest of the people, stressing that, “Our prayers were answered fully by the Almighty God as at every moment of the way, our government puts God and the people as a point of take off and return.

“At the centre of state power is God and His divine will. That reality explains my consistent praise worship in private and public functions. Our dear God has blessed us in the last one year.

“We recorded a superlative performance which even our opponents cannot deny. There is the evident hand of God in state decisions. In critical situations, the divine guides us to the right choice.

“I, therefore, expressed the deep appreciation of our government to clerics and men of God at home and here with us. You are the agents of God in our midst. Since I assumed office, I can attest and assert that it has been God all the way.

“I stand before you today to declare that we will not abandon the path of God. We will continue to serve the people diligently and faithfully. Genuine service to the people is to us a strong way to worship God.

“We will continue to pursue pro- people policies and programmes. We will not abuse state power. Rather we will deploy instruments of state to develop the people and our dear state.”