Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State was overwhelmed with emotion during a recent meeting, reportedly weeping for 15 minutes over the lingering crisis surrounding the state’s local government administration. This was disclosed by the Osun Commissioner for Education, Mr Dipo Eluwole, who spoke on Tuesday at a training event for teachers in Ede.
Eluwole described the governor’s emotional breakdown as a reflection of his deep concern for the unresolved standoff between elected officials from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has persisted since February. The crisis has led to a suspension of federal allocations to the councils, heightening tensions across the state.
While addressing the audience, Eluwole urged teachers to keep praying for the state’s leadership, noting that the situation in Osun is far more severe than what transpired in Rivers State, where a state of emergency had previously been declared. He credited the relative calm in Osun to the people’s adherence to the Omoluabi ethos—a cultural value promoting good character.
“I saw a traditional ruler shed tears because of the crisis,” he said. “Governor Adeleke couldn’t start a meeting last Saturday without first breaking down in tears for 15 minutes. They had to calm him down. It shows how much the situation has affected him.”
The commissioner also pointed to improvements in the state’s education sector, saying schools have moved past past challenges like vandalism, cultism, and hooliganism. He admitted, however, that a lack of funds has stalled infrastructure development, but expressed optimism that ongoing efforts by the state government would soon bear fruit.
