Chinwe Odita
The Osun State Government says Governor Ademola Adeleke’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term was driven by development considerations and not by his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, the Governor’s Special Adviser and Spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the position was made public long before the poll and should not be seen as a political reward.
Rasheed said Adeleke first announced support for Tinubu while still in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and reaffirmed it after moving to the Accord Party.
“When Mr. Governor was within the PDP, the endorsement was announced. When he crossed over to Accord, the endorsement was announced. So the endorsement predates this election victory,” he said.
He added that the governor had in May publicly reaffirmed his backing for Tinubu, describing it as “development-driven and in the interest of the state.”
According to the spokesman, the governor’s calculation is centred on attracting greater federal presence and cooperation on critical infrastructure.
“The whole world, the political space is aware that Mr. Governor has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the governor explained the reasons why he’s endorsing him.
He talks about developmental focus. The need to attract federal presence.
The need to get most of the roads in Osun’s federal project done, and the need to support a man that is on the seat that can do this for us,” Rasheed said.
He cited ongoing federal road projects as proof of the benefits of the relationship, including the Ilesa-Ibadan, Osogbo-Ibadan and Gbongan-Osogbo corridors.
Adeleke had in May commended Tinubu and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, following federal approvals for the rehabilitation of the Osogbo-Iwo and Gbongan-Akoda-Osogbo routes.
“And as a consequence of that endorsement, Ilesa-Ibadan Road is being worked on.
We have Osogbo-Ibadan Road being awarded; the work has started. We have Gbongan to Osogbo already awarded, and so on,” Rasheed said.
The spokesman maintained that Osun residents had no reason to feel betrayed by the governor’s stance.
“So, the governor is looking at backing the man on the seat for several reasons, and you know this predates our election victory.
So, I will say people should not feel betrayed. Mr. Governor is only doing the right thing that is in the best interest of Osun people,” he said.
Following his re-election, Adeleke again reaffirmed his endorsement of Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election and thanked the President for supporting what he described as a free and fair governorship contest in Osun.
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