Governor Adeleke,

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of receiving a N172 million inducement to publicly endorse Governor Ademola Adeleke for a second term during the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration.

In a statement released on Thursday by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, the APC alleged that labour union leaders in the state were financially motivated to adopt Governor Adeleke’s candidacy for re-election.

“We gathered that the organized labour organisations in the state have been induced to adopt the Governor Adeleke for the second term during the May Day anniversary slated for the Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo, Osun State,” the statement read.

Olabisi further claimed the funds had already been disbursed among various labour factions.

“To this effect, it has been scooped that the state government has made available the sum of N172 million for the leadership of NLC.”

“With the sharing formula of N97 million for the factionalized NULGE while both the NLC and the TUC are smiling to the bank with a sum of N75 million each meaning that the Governor Adeleke-led government coughed out N172 million as an inducement for the labour unions to adopt him for second term on May Day,” he stated.

The APC also criticized the state’s preparations for the Workers’ Day celebration, describing them as a facade to boost the governor’s popularity.

“Information has it that the purpose of the cash inducement by the state government for the labour unions is to encourage the leaders of the unions to adopt the candidature of Governor Adeleke for second term during the May Day celebration.

“In order to make the forceful second term adoption exercise rosy, the state government has bought Ankara uniforms for all the government workers in the state with a directive to them to flood the venue of the event on the May Day in order to give a false popularity and acceptability to the embattled Governor Adeleke whose popularity is waning on daily basis for acts of mis-governance.”

In response, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bimbo Fasasi, dismissed the allegations as unfounded and unworthy of attention.

“Laughable! That’s all I can say. It is a cheap blackmail, baseless and unworthy of occupying public space for discussion,” Fasasi stated in a brief text message.

Despite a walkout by a section of women during an empowerment programme in Rivers State, the state government has affirmed that the event proceeded as planned, with 500 beneficiaries receiving critical livelihood tools.

According to a statement from Hector Igbikiowubo, Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Rivers State Government, the programme took place at the EUI Event Centre in Port Harcourt and featured the distribution of deep freezers, gas cookers with ovens, grinding machines, and generators to support underprivileged women.

The wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was represented at the event by the wife of the Rivers State Administrator, Dr. Theresa Ibas.

In her address, Dr. Ibas explained that the programme is part of a nationwide effort aimed at economically empowering 18,500 women across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

“These tools are designed to help our women establish and grow successful businesses, contributing to the nation’s prosperity,” Senator Tinubu stated in a message delivered by Dr. Ibas.

“This program reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes inclusivity, economic growth, and sustainable development particularly for women.”

Earlier, an uproar ensued when the women expecting the presence of the First Lady discovered she was absent.

Disappointed by the substitution with the wife of the Sole Administrator, Lady Ete-Ibas, some attendees walked out of the venue in protest.

Nonetheless, the state government clarified that the core objectives of the initiative were achieved.

The programme was implemented under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Senator Tinubu noted that the initiative had already been successfully executed in the North Central zone, and the Rivers event marked the conclusion of the South-South leg.

She also emphasized the initiative’s alignment with key global targets: “This program reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes inclusivity, economic growth, and sustainable development, particularly for women.”

She added that it aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG-5 on Gender Equality and SDG-8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Dr. Ibas, speaking further, called for collective commitment to peace as a foundation for long-term progress.

She said, “My husband’s appointment as Rivers State Administrator was aimed at restoring stability.”

She appealed to citizens to support law and order, urging them to help steer the state back to its “cherished path of glory.”

Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, also addressed the gathering, encouraging women to embrace entrepreneurial opportunities amid Nigeria’s current economic realities.

She said the initiative was designed to “drive inclusive growth through strategic partnerships while addressing poverty and hunger.”

Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele has said that her foray into politics made her more courageous, enlightened, and better informed about governance in Nigeria.

Speaking at the recent #WithChude Live session hosted by media entrepreneur, Chude Jideonwo, Akindele reflected on her experience as the deputy governorship candidate for Lagos State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections.

She ran alongside Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, but lost to the incumbent governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I needed to support others. I needed to give back, that was why I went into politics,” she said.

“Getting into it, seeing the violence, hearing the shouting, then I started watching female politicians, the way they speak and command respect and authority. And I said to myself, ‘Hey, you can do it.’

Akindele noted that the experience taught her vital personal and leadership lessons, pushing her out of her comfort zone.

“I stood, I spoke. I learnt that you have to be bold, courageous, and strong. What will be, will be. Fear will only keep you stuck,” she said.

She also revealed how her involvement in politics sparked a greater interest in civic education and public policy.

“I started reading more, learning more about my country and my state. When I want to speak now, I speak with statistics, with data. So yes, I’m glad I went into politics. And if you ask me whether I’ll do it again? Oh yes!” she added.

Beyond politics, Akindele used the platform to advocate for mental health awareness, opening up about her own emotional struggles, grief, and the pressure of public life.

“Right from the start, I’ve always known therapy is important, but I never submitted myself to it. I’d be scared people would hear and spread the gist. But I was dying in silence while acting strong,” she confessed.

She described how personal losses and public backlash affected her deeply, particularly after her mother’s death and the trolling she received following the elections.

“When Mum passed on my everything, my prayer partner the politics, the backlash, the insults… I watched a video where women were mocking me, saying I didn’t have a husband. I broke down. I cried and cried. Then I told myself, ‘You need to speak to someone. You can’t continue like this,’” she recalled.

Eventually, she sought professional help. “Things I couldn’t tell others, I told my therapist. And now I feel better. So I want to advise everyone out there: it’s very important to speak up. Yes.”

She also addressed the pain of being falsely accused of neglecting her late Jenifa’s Diary co-star, Adejumoke Aderounmu, who reportedly battled depression before her death in 2024.

“People called me out, saying, ‘She was in Jenifa, why are you acting like you care now?’ I was already depressed myself. I was bottling so much in,” she said.

“To cope, I went into a room, locked the door, and did a live video — just to speak out. Some people lock the door and end their lives. I thank God I locked the door and went live instead.”

Reflecting on those experiences, she concluded, “There’s no such thing as a strong person. You need to speak up.”