By Obike Ukoh
The body language and utterances of Governor Ademola Adeleke since he was re-elected Osun governor have raised a lot of dust.
Adeleke was elected on the platform of Accord Party, after his inevitable exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a result of internecine conflict within the party.
Adeleke’s victory was celebrated all over Nigeria, as all the arsenals gathered by the All Progressive Congress (APC), controlled Federal Government failed to ignite.
More than 10 APC governors were in Osun for the election, including deployment of massive security personnel, which stakeholders described as unnecessary.
All the actions of the APC controlled Federal Government, unarguably, was to defeat Adeleke. That was not to be, as Adeleke triumphed.
Though Adeleke thanked Osun people for voting for him and protecting their votes, he appears to also be grateful to the powers that planned to dethrone him.
Adeleke, while addressing journalists after his declaration as governor, reaffirmed his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term.
The governor also praised Tinubu for what he described as his support for a free and fair election in the state.
“At this point, I must deeply appreciate Mr President, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong support for a free and fair election.Mr President is a son of Osun State, and I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election,” Mr Adeleke said. However, many people have reacted angrily, to the development and other actions of Adeleke, which they perceived as Adeleke begging for recognition by the opposition party, that plotted for his downfall and failed, They also queried,whether Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu, is cowardice or the sagacity of a survivor?’’
A commentator wrote inter alia, Let’s be honest: Ademola Adeleke’s decision to reaffirm his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election, after defeating the APC in the Osun governorship election, has left many people scratching their heads. The question practically writes itself: how do you fight a man and his political structure in an election, defeat them, and then turn around to support the same man for president?
“To some, it is cowardice. To others, political betrayal. But perhaps there is another way to look at it.’’
Social media commentators also voiced disapproval for Adeleke’s perceived romance with the APC.
They urged Adeleke to savour his victory and stop trying to dictate the choices of Osun voters for 2027, reminding him that even the “federal might” of the APC could not stop the will of the Osun people in the governorship election which he won.
Here are some of the reactions from X:
Dr Kenon @drkenon2: “I thought this man had sense. What is this for God’s sake? Governor Ademola said he’s supporting Tinubu because he’s a Yoruba man.
“That’s very embarrassing & I am so disappointed. He just disgraced all the people that stood for him during the election.”
Lola Okunrin @lollypeezle: “Osun people stood against Tinubu and his APC team. 28 died and this is how you pay them back. Fuck you Adeleke.”
Abu Amir @SadiqMaunde: “Adeleke’s support isn’t based on competence, good governance, or the nation’s development, but based on tribalism.
“And this is the same man you people were standing with?”
Ayemojubar @ayemojubar: “A Yoruba man who froze the state’s account without your consent and nearly upturned your administration simply because you refused to join his party?
“Well, you can go ahead and support Tinubu, but the people of Osun are clearly not with you on this.”
FarmerCrypt @fermacrypt: “Davido’s uncle, Ademola Adeleke sat in an interview and claimed he would support Tinubu. We all heard it. But we also know Osun. We know the hardship. We know what this administration has done to the ordinary people in that state and across the country.
“Words in an interview are one thing. The reality on the ground is another. When the same Tinubu government whose first lady is advising people to fry akara, roast corn and sell groundnuts, under the sun is the one being endorsed, only the most disconnected would still line up to vote them back.
“Osun is watching. The rest of Nigeria is watching. And the people who still have their senses left are not buying the performance.”
Activist, Omoyele Sowore, also criticised Adeleke, for endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid less than 24 hours after winning the governorship election.
He also lashed the governor and David Adeleke a.k.a. Davido, for their visit to FCT minister in his Abuja residence.
The governor in addition to the endorsement of Tinubu, personally visited the President in Abuja.
Sowore made the criticism in a post on his official X handle, while questioning the deaths recorded in the violence before and during the election in Osun State.
He alleged that close to 50 people lost their lives in the violence and questioned why political actors had not addressed the deaths.
“These evil people had to sacrifice close to 50 lives in violence before and during the Osun election,’” Sowore wrote.
He also criticised Adeleke’s decision to support Tinubu, claiming the governor based the decision on their shared Yoruba identity.
“And when I said Adeleke has nothing upstairs, it took him less than 24 hours after INEC declared him the winner to prove that. He had to announce that he was supporting Tinubu re-election because Tinubu is a Yoruba man,” he wrote.
Sowore questioned who was responsible for the deaths and demanded an investigation into the incidents.
“Who killed them? Who ordered or enabled the violence? Who is investigating their deaths? Where is the justice for their families?” he asked.
On Davido’s visit to the FCT minister with the governor, his uncle. Sowore described Davido and other political figures as political hustlers,’’ and questioned why pay respect to Nysom Wike, despite reports of deadly violence during the election period.’’
However, the Imole Campaign Council, defended Adeleke’s actions, especially his visit to President Tinubu after he was announced winner of Osun governorship election.
Bamidele Salam, Chairman of Media and Publicity, said the visit was in line with established political tradition following off-cycle elections in Nigeria.’’ He stressed there is no iota of truth that Adeleke plans to defect to the APC. Salam noted that the visit was worth it, as it afforded Tinubu, the father of the nation and Osun governor, a platform to discuss issues pertaining to peace, security and progress of Osun after tense election.’’
Nobody knows how the unfolding drama would end up, but analysts and commentators are already asking whether Adeleke would be another Olusegun Mimiko.
Mimiko was governor of Ondo from 2009 to 2017. He built Labour Party into a formidable political force, only to defect to the PDP.
For Adeleke, it is obvious he cannot return to the PDP. If he will abandon Accord Party, the body language is clear, APC. Only time will tell, if he would remain in Accord Party to strengthen it.
Analysts attribute the present posture of Adeleke as a strategy for survival, as it is not over until it is over. It is not yet uhuru for Adeleke as his victory could be challenged in court. They say rightly or wrongly, that he wants to checkmate that.
