Re-elected Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has denied reaching any political agreement with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in exchange for his support for the President’s bid for a second term in 2027.
Adeleke made the clarification during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he explained the reason behind his decision to publicly support Tinubu’s 2027 presidential re-election bid.
The governor said his support was not based on any personal or political agreement with the President, but was motivated by Tinubu’s identity as a Yoruba man from the South-West and his desire to see the President continue development projects in the region.
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“No, I never reached agreement with Mr President. My support is just based on, he’s a Yoruba man, and he’s from the South-West,” Adeleke said.
According to the governor, he wants Tinubu to continue with development projects, particularly federal road projects across the South-West.
“I believe that all the federal roads that he has started, I want to encourage him not to forget the South-West too because all our federal roads lead to other regions,” he said.
Adeleke further said he believed Tinubu should be given another opportunity to continue his reforms.
“And I feel like, well, since a Yoruba man has won the first term, maybe we should give him another chance to develop his reforms,” the governor added.
The clarification followed criticism that greeted Adeleke’s decision to support Tinubu despite belonging to a rival political camp. Adeleke’s relationship with Tinubu has remained cordial despite the governor’s affiliation with the opposition, with both politicians maintaining public engagements over time.
The governor was specifically asked whether his support for Tinubu was based on a political or personal agreement, particularly following a statement by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who had said, “Agreement is agreement.”
However, Adeleke dismissed any suggestion that a deal existed between him and the President.
The re-elected governor also said he was prepared to work with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including his defeated opponent in the Osun governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji, and former Osun State governor, Gboyega Oyetola, if that would advance Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
“Well, as long as it’s … I’m doing it for Mr. President. So I wouldn’t mind; I will work with them,” Adeleke said.
He further pledged to support Tinubu in whatever capacity the President requires when the 2027 campaign begins.
“Whenever Mr President, when it’s time for him to campaign and all that, whatever how he wants me to come in, I will do it,” he said.
Adeleke’s comments came after Keyamo publicly thanked him for reaffirming his support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid.
In a post on X, Keyamo described Adeleke as “a man of integrity and honour” while thanking him for what he described as a “public and unequivocal endorsement” of Tinubu.
“Thank you, Governor Ademola Adeleke, for the public and unequivocal endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 Presidential Election,” Keyamo wrote.
“You are a man of integrity and honour. ‘Agreement is agreement,’” the minister added.
Adeleke secured re-election in the Osun governorship election with 511,067 votes, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes. African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.
The governor won 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victories in 11 LGAs.
Source: New Telegraph
