Drama As Adeleke Dances In Channels Interview, Attributes Victory To Accessibility

There was drama on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics when re-elected Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke broke into his trademark dance during an interview with presenter Seun Okinbaloye.

Adeleke, who is popularly known as the “Dancing Governor”, was responding to a question on whether he could express his feelings through music when he replied, “You got it.”

He then danced to Feel, a hit song by his nephew, Davido, first while seated and later on his feet, displaying the dancing skills that have become synonymous with his public image.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, winner of Saturday’s governorship election with 511,067 votes, defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.

Speaking on his victory, Adeleke said it was an endorsement by Osun voters of his administration’s performance in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, workers’ welfare and road development.

He said his opponents initially underestimated him because of his dancing and public persona.

“At first, a lot of people underestimated me because of my dancing skills. A lot of people believed I wasn’t a serious person; that I would just go there, dance and have fun,” he said.

“But for me, I like people to underrate me. When you underrate me, I hit you from the back.”

According to him, his administration achieved in three and a half years what previous APC administrations could not accomplish in 12 years.

“So that was what really happened. Before they knew what was going on, what the APC could not achieve in Osun in 12 years, I had already achieved in three and a half years,” he said.

Adeleke said his government entered office with a clear blueprint and a competent team, enabling it to execute projects in infrastructure, road connectivity and healthcare across the state.

“Immediately we came in, we had a blueprint and I had a very fantastic team, so we got to work. Before they could know what was going on, we had done infrastructure, connectivity of roads and health,” he said.

Labour Support

The governor also credited his relationship with organised labour for his re-election, saying Osun had not experienced a strike throughout his administration.

He said he allowed labour unions to negotiate directly with the government, including over the minimum wage.

“For the first time in history, there has never been a strike for one day. Even when the minimum wage issue came, I told them: ‘Go and negotiate. Go and do what you have to do. Bring it to me and I will sign it,’” he said.

“So they are very happy. I kept wondering whether they would say thank you by giving me another chance for the second time. And they spoke loud and clear.”

Adeleke also attributed his victory to his accessibility, grassroots connection and personal relationship with the people.

“I think it’s my person. It’s my person. They love my personality. I give them joy. I’m very accessible. I’m grassroots, so I’m free with everybody. I love my people, and they love me back. And, of course, performance. All of these joined together to make it great,” he said.

‘I Went To My Brother’s Grave Before The Election’

In one of the most emotional moments of the interview, Adeleke revealed that he visited the grave of his late elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, popularly known as Serubawon, shortly before the election to seek his prayers and draw psychological strength.

Isiaka Adeleke, who died on April 23, 2017, was the first civilian governor of Osun State and later represented Osun West Senatorial District in the Senate.

The governor said he shared many similarities with his late brother and still missed him deeply.

“My late brother Serubawon and I, we are alike. We behave the same way. He loved life too. I miss him a lot,” he said.

Adeleke disclosed that he sometimes visited his brother’s grave and cried, adding that he went there again on the eve of the election.

“Sometimes I cry. I go to his grave and say, ‘Brother, I miss you,’ and I cry. Even yesterday, before the election, I always go there and say, ‘Brother, here I am again on the march. I am going for an election. I want you to pray for me.’ You know, just a psychological boost for me,” he said.

Following his brother’s death, Adeleke contested the Osun West senatorial seat and won, a victory that brought his dancing to national attention.

‘Osun People Want The Adeleke Family’

Adeleke said his siblings had remained supportive throughout his political journey and attributed his continued electoral success partly to the acceptance of the Adeleke family by Osun voters.

Responding to suggestions that he had created an “Adeleke dynasty” in Osun, he said:

“I’m not the one that made it. It’s the Osun people that want us. They believe that our family is a family that a lot of people will love their family to be like that.”

He also described his elder brother, Adedeji Adeleke, father of Davido, as a father figure and trusted adviser whose counsel had influenced his decisions.

“I miss my dad big time. But when I see him, I see my dad. So, he is like a father figure to me,” Adeleke said.

He said he now listened closely to his elder brother because of the wisdom he had acquired through years of business experience.

“He is a father figure. How much do I listen to him? A lot, because God has really blessed him with wisdom,” he said.

Recalling that he had once ignored his brother’s advice on some business ventures, Adeleke said he eventually recognised his elder brother’s business acumen.

“I was a bit stubborn. So, after some time, I said, ‘Wait a minute. I think I need to listen to my big brother,’” he said.

“I started studying him. And as I got older, I would call him my adviser with a portfolio.”

Adeleke also recalled his mother’s influence, particularly her emphasis on sharing and mutual support.

Adeleke Reaffirms Support For Tinubu

The governor also reaffirmed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, describing the president as a father figure.

Adeleke disclosed that Tinubu called him after the election to congratulate him.

“He called me and, well, I see him as a father. So he called me and said, ‘Mr Governor, what’s going on? How is the election going?’

“I said, ‘Your son is cruising to victory. I’ve won,’ and all that,” he recalled.

According to Adeleke, Tinubu congratulated him and said democracy was prevailing.

The governor said he appreciated the president’s gesture and would continue to support him, while also seeking his intervention on issues affecting Osun.

Adeleke Seeks Release Of Withheld LG Funds

Adeleke said he would raise with Tinubu the issue of funds he alleged had been withheld from local governments in Osun for almost two years.

He said the financial constraints had affected his administration’s ability to complete some projects despite improved internally generated revenue.

“When I see Mr President, I will talk to him about it. I will tell him, ‘Listen, the election is over, and I think we should do that,’ because it’s not easy,” he said.

“I wish I had more money to fix a lot of things. There are some projects that are almost completed, but because of funds, they seized our local government funds for almost two years. No government can survive it. No government can.”

He said increased IGR had largely been absorbed by salaries and other obligations.

“Our IGR has really improved greatly. But by the time we finish paying salaries and doing other things, there is no more money,” he said.

‘Ede Is Part Of Osun’

The governor also rejected allegations that his administration had concentrated development in his hometown, Ede, describing the claim as propaganda.

“Leave that one now. Those are propaganda,” he said.

Adeleke pointed to flyovers, road projects and other infrastructure in Osogbo and other parts of the state as evidence of a broader development agenda.

“I put flyovers where I think they are necessary because of traffic congestion,” he said, adding that his administration had dualised several roads in Osogbo and undertaken projects in Ife.

“Because I’m from Ede and I’m governor, Ede is part of Osun State, so I have to fix Ede too. But the development cuts across the state. There is no local government that I did not touch,” he said.

Adeleke said some roads across the state had been abandoned for decades, with some allegedly neglected for about 45 years.

He said he personally inspected some of the projects and directed the Commissioner for Works to ensure their completion.

The governor also rejected allegations that incompetent contractors were responsible for the deterioration of roads constructed under his administration.

“Those people are just talking. Why would I go and hire somebody who is not competent? No, no, no, no. That’s not right. God is not right,” he said.