Osun: Adeleke cancels Independence Day celebration

• Governor urged Osun people to pray for Nigeria’s continuous peace and prosperity

Governor Ademola Adeleke has cancelled the celebration of Independence Day earlier slated for Sunday, October 1st.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the Governor urged Osun people to pray for Nigeria’s continuous peace and prosperity.

“Let us use Independence Day to meditate and pray on the state of our nation. Our people are passing through tough times. It is time to take stock and seek divine intervention and guidance in the affairs of our nation.

“I greet Osun people and Nigerians in general as the Independence day knocks at our doors. Here in Osun, we will celebrate with meditation and prayers”, the Governor was quoted as saying.

In another development, Adeleke has called on world leaders to empower subnational entities to accelerate achievement of the Paris Agreements on climate change.

Speaking ahead of COP28 Dubai while receiving a report of the Governor’s Climate Advisory Council in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke affirmed that substantial gains can only be achieved on tackling climate change when states and local governments are strengthened and mobilised to implement mitigation and resilience projects.

“My message to world leaders ahead of COP28 is for them to refocus attention on the states and local governments. Funding should be redirected to reach regional and council governments while the central governments coordinate.

“The battle front now is for subnational entities to be prioritized. If the global community truly wants Paris agreements to be achieved, let us go local. Localisation should be the watchword within the climate space.

“I also call on leaders of the world to note the urgency of simplifying access to climate financing. The clamour I read has been inadequate financing. How accessible is the current available pool of funds?

“We need to make it easy to access funding for climate adaptation projects. We are to reduce bureaucracy and all those bottlenecks that slow down or even deny many actors of access to finance.

“For us in Osun state, we are committed to climate action. We welcome partnership with the National Council on Climate Change and other development partners. We have the political will to make a difference”, Governor Adeleke said.