Adeleke Tenders Unreserved Apology Over “Iwo Is A Village” Controversy

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has tendered what his spokesman described as an “unreserved apology” to the people of Iwo over the controversy generated by remarks that some interpreted as referring to the ancient town as a village.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said Adeleke has immense respect for the people of Iwo and would never deliberately disparage the community.

“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,” Rasheed stated.

The spokesman maintained that the governor never described Iwo as a village, arguing that political opponents had distorted a sarcastic remark for partisan purposes.

“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,” he insisted.

Addressing the Oluwo of Iwoland, the Oluwo-in-Council, the Iwo Board of Trustees, the Iwo Action Council, religious groups, traditional institutions, youth organisations, students and indigenes of the town at home and in the diaspora, Rasheed conveyed the governor’s apology over the misunderstanding.

“His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke tenders unreserved apology for his sarcasm which opposition elements have twisted and misrepresented,” the statement asserted.

According to him, Iwo occupies a special place in the governor’s heart and has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the Adeleke family dating back to the era of the late first executive governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

“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 spokesperson emphasized.

Rasheed explained that Adeleke’s point was that previous administrations had failed to accord Iwo its deserved status and level of development, a situation the current administration was working to reverse.

“The governor’s contention was that Iwo has not been granted its rightful place by previous administrations, a situation he is reversing,” he said, adding that the governor remained committed to infrastructure expansion and development projects across all parts of Osun State.

The spokesman also offered a personal apology to the people of the town.
“As a son of the soil, I also profusely apologise to our Royal father and all Iwo sons and daughters,” he appealed.

Rasheed dismissed attempts to make political gains from the controversy, insisting that the Adeleke administration’s record in Iwo spoke for itself.

“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,” he added.