Gov Adeleke clears air on ‘lavishing state’s funds on foreign travels’

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has refuted claims that his administration squandered public funds on foreign travels, training, and hospitality expenses during the first half of 2025.

In a statement issued on Monday in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed, the governor dismissed media reports suggesting that N2.8 billion was spent on international travels and transport, and N1.674 billion on refreshments and meals, calling them inaccurate and politically motivated.

Rasheed clarified that the funds in question covered legitimate expenditures for capacity-building programs involving civil servants across various ministries, departments, and agencies—not just the governor.

He explained that the figures represented the collective spending of state officials, not individual expenses by the governor.

He also noted that the rising exchange rate of the naira contributed significantly to the increased cost of international engagements, despite a reduction in the number of delegates and frequency of travel compared to previous administrations.

“The governor is only the head of the government; there are several other sectorial heads and career officers whose expenditures on travels and training make up the state government expenditure,” Rasheed stated.

On the issue of refreshments and fumigation, he explained that the costs were incurred to maintain hygiene and cleanliness at the state secretariat, government house, and agency offices.

Rasheed reiterated that the controversy surrounding the figures was part of a smear campaign driven by political opponents.