Osun: Bishops, Christians Back Adeleke, Cite Divine Duties Ahead
The World Bishops Council (WBC), Africa Chapter, alongside the Religious Engagement (Christianity) Committee, has publicly thrown its weight behind the re-election of Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, ahead of the state’s August 15 governorship election, describing him as a leader with divine duties yet to be fulfilled.
In a statement issued in Osogbo, the Osun State leader of the World Bishops Council, Bishop Mike Adebomi, said the council’s endorsement was rooted in what it described as the governor’s peaceful disposition and inclusive style of governance. According to the council, Adeleke’s administration has fostered harmonious relations among religious groups in the state, a contrast to earlier periods when disputes between Christians and Muslims resulted in prolonged legal disagreements. The bishops noted that some individuals associated with those past religious tensions were seeking to return to the governorship, but argued that Adeleke had restored peace to the state and deserved another term to consolidate that stability.
In a separate communiqué signed by the Religious Engagement Committee’s Chairman, Bishop Seun Adeoye, Vice Chairman, Pastor Wale Akinyemi, and Assistant Secretary, Rev. Caleb Akanni, the group expressed confidence in Adeleke’s capacity to deliver further governance achievements based on his performance during his first term. The committee described the governor as “a man of grace,” stating that his leadership style reflects a consistent acknowledgement of God, and adding that they believe he still has divine responsibilities left to fulfil for the people of Osun State.
As part of efforts to support what it described as a peaceful and credible electoral process, the committee announced a seven-day fasting and prayer programme scheduled to run from August 8 to August 14, aimed at praying for the peaceful conduct of the governorship election.
The endorsement adds to a pattern of religious engagement that has surrounded Adeleke’s tenure, with state government records showing regular interfaith prayer sessions held throughout his time in office, during which clerics across denominations, including the Chief Imam of Osogboland, Sheikh Musa Animasaun, and the Osun State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr John Adeleke, have offered prayers for the governor and his administration. At a New Year interfaith prayer programme earlier this year, Adeleke himself stated that he believed divine support, combined with popular backing, would secure his re-election, describing his tenure as having overcome challenges that once appeared insurmountable.
However, religious sentiment around the race has not been uniform. A separate coalition of religious leaders had previously called for a Christian candidate to succeed Adeleke, whom they identified as Muslim, arguing that fairness required rotating the governorship given that four out of five governors since 1999 had been Muslim, with only one Christian having held the office.
The August 15 election is expected to be closely watched, with religious endorsements forming one of several factors likely to shape voter sentiment as Adeleke seeks a second term in office.
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