The Osun State Government’s decision to commit a staggering ₦678 million to the reconstruction of the Sango-Timi Shrine and Grove in Ede, hometown of Governor Ademola Adeleke, has triggered widespread criticism from civil groups, analysts, and community leaders across the state.
Critics argue that the project reflects misplaced priorities at a time when the state is grappling with pressing economic challenges, unpaid worker entitlements, and abandoned infrastructure in other major towns.
Public affairs analyst, Adebayo Adedeji, faulted the government’s decision, stressing that the allocation to the shrine nearly doubles the ₦376 million released as education subsidies for the entire state in the first half of 2025, according to the Q2 Budget Implementation Report.
He also noted that despite promises to workers, only ₦500 million—about 11.1% of the ₦4.5 billion budgeted for gratuity arrears—has been paid so far this year. The Contributory Pension Scheme, he added, remains severely underfunded, with just ₦998 million (14.3% of the ₦7 billion allocation) disbursed.
“It is disturbing that the government finds it convenient to pour such huge funds into a shrine project when pensions, salaries, and education are underfunded. This raises serious questions about governance priorities,” Adedeji said.
Adedeji further decried what he described as a lopsided concentration of development in the governor’s hometown.
“In 2025 alone, at least seven road projects worth over ₦70 billion have been awarded for dualisation in Ede. Meanwhile, vital projects in Ife, Osogbo, and Ilesa have remained abandoned nearly two years after they were flagged off,” he said.
He also questioned why the state would invest so heavily in the Ede shrine in the name of tourism while leaving other globally significant sites in neglect.
“If the objective is to promote tourism and protect cultural heritage, why is Ede the focus? What about Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilization, or the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts global visitors?” he asked.
The Osogbo Development Action Group (ODAG) joined the chorus of disapproval, describing the shrine allocation as a “reckless expenditure” with little long-term benefit for the state’s economy.
In a strongly worded statement, ODAG’s coordinator, Omosola Olabode, insisted that the government should channel such huge funds into developing the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, which is internationally recognized and has the capacity to generate steady revenue and jobs through tourism.
“Governor Adeleke campaigned on a promise to upgrade the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove. That site remains a cultural jewel of Yoruba land and a global tourist attraction. Directing nearly ₦700 million to a local shrine while neglecting a UNESCO-listed heritage site is wasteful and unjustifiable,” Olabode said.
The development has since sparked heated debates on social media and in community forums, with many Osun residents accusing the administration of focusing on symbolic projects in Ede while leaving more pressing needs unattended.
Observers warn that the backlash could erode public trust in Adeleke’s government if concerns over uneven development and misplaced priorities are not urgently addressed.
Copyright © EaglesWatchOnline 2023 All rights reserved.
This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without written permission from EaglesWatchOnline.
