The core of anger and pseudo-revolt of Hon Wole Oke should be studied by the public. His unstable politicking towards 2026 should be questioned by all deep minds. What sin has the Adelekes committed to warrant Oke’s naked dance in public space?
The crux of the matter is Oke’s push for a seventh term in the House of Representatives. Key leaders from his constituency said No, that other local governments should be given opportunity. Oke rushed to the Adelekes to force his constituency to present him again for 7th term in the federal house. The Adelekes said they should not be dragged into the matter and that the family will support whoever emerges from the party primary.
From then on, Oke has been throwing tantrums, deploying blackmail, threatening defection, openly hobnobbing with the opposition and even openly attacking Mr Governor. Is Mr Governor from Obokun/Oriade to decide who their representative should be?
Is it democratic in any way for Mr Governor to attempt to impose a man to run for 7th term especially when his people said No?
The public should judge who is wrong?
Back to the 2022 elections, the facts are there with verifiable records. Those who actively worked against the party are well known. Those who collected election logistics money and diverted it are well known. Those who funded the opposition APC are widely recorded. Yet, the Adelekes after winning the election overlooked the betrayals and forged ahead with good governance without discrimination.
At no time was Obokun /Oriade where Oke hailed from, neglected in any way? The zone holds key portfolios in the state cabinet alongside many constructed rural roads, new ongoing intercity roads and ongoing upgrade of Esa Oke polytechnic among others. The Governor has been fair by all accounts to all parts of the state.
As part of his blackmailing campaign against the state government and the Adeleke family, he went hysterical about alleged neglect of his people. His constituents assembled at a press conference and.debunked the attacks as cheap blackmail. They listed so many programmes and projects ongoing in Oke’s zone.
In relation to the presidency, the position of the state government on President Tinubu is clear. From 2022 to date, I have never read anywhere that the Osun state government or its functionaries attack the Federal Government. If the Adelekes support Tinubu for a second term, what is bad about that? The presidency is aware that the Adelekes are friends rather than enemies of the President. That was why the state of emergency agenda failed.
On the issue of use and dump, nothing could be farther from the truth. The Adeleke’s reward and hold tight to their friends and benefactors. Almost 100 percent of the 2022 team are still with the family except less than one percent who actually betrayed the family during the campaign or those who made illegal requests and demands in the post-election scenario.They actually worked against the ticket in 2022 and their current moves are like unmasking who they truly are.
The Adeleke family was brought to power by God and man. From 2022 to date,the Governor has raised the bar of governance by delivering across the sectors. The good performance of Mr Governor cannot be denied even by his worst haters. That the Governor’s performance approval rating is over 80 percent is attested to across the state.
But as a democrat, the Governor won’t get involved in the obokun/Oriade House or Representative contest. The Governor has no preferred candidate. The position of the government according to insiders is that the people should decide.
The Adeleke family is committed to democracy and good governance. No amount of proxy attacks on the family by Oke or his agents will make the family change its way.
Today, the political machinery of Governor Ademola Adeleke has evolved into a mass movement supported by partisan and nonpartisan citizens and residents alike. The movement for good governance which the Adelekes represented is growing from strength to strength. So as far as 2026 is concerned, God and the good people of Osun will decide.
●Adeola Oladepo, a friend of the Adeleke family, writes from Osogbo.
