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Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke on Tuesday criticised one his predecessors, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, for withdrawing support from him ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Mr Adeleke, who is seeking a second term in office, accused Mr Oyinlola of repeatedly working against his political ambitions.
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The governor made the allegation on Tuesday during an Arise TV town hall programme ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The governor said Mr Oyinlola opposed his political ambition during his bid for the Senate and later at the 2018 and 2022 governorship elections.
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According to him, Mr Oyinlola alleged opposition to his political aspirations was not new, claiming that the former governor did not support him when he contested for the Senate in 2007.
Mr Adeleke also referred to the disputed 2018 governorship election, saying the ex-governor did not support him despite then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s comments on the election.
He further alleged that Mr Oyinlola opposed him during the 2022 governorship election by backing the then Secretary to the Osun State Government, Fatai Akinbade.
“In 2022, he did not support me. He went to go and bring the secretary to the state government, Akinbad,” Mr Adeleke said.
Mr Adeleke’s comments come against the backdrop of Mr Oyinlola’s changing political position ahead of Saturday’s election. The former governor, who had earlier supported Adeleke’s re-election bid, withdrew that backing on Sunday and aligned with the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Mr Oyinlola and other PDP stakeholders at the Sunday’s event declared support for Mr Oyebamiji, citing what they described as a lack of inclusiveness in Mr Adeleke’s administration.
While announcing the endorsement, mr Oyinlola, however, said he and the other members of his group had not defected from the PDP, insisting that they remained members of the party but had chosen to support Mr Oyebamiji based on their conviction that Osun required a different direction.
Political influence
Mr Adeleke, however, mocked the former governor’s influence, claiming that his presented candidate secured low votes in the election despite the ex-governor’s support.
He said the former governor subsequently approached him after his victory in the 2022 election seeking reconciliation.
According to Mr Adeleke, he accepted the overture because of his willingness to forgive political opponents.
The governor also claimed that Mr Oyinlola complained to him about not having a car, after which he gave him a new vehicle. However, Mr Adeleke alleged that the former governor subsequently changed his political position again and declined to support him.
READ ALSO: Osun ‘did’ several federal roads but yet to be reimbursed – Adeleke
“Immediately I won, he came back to me. Say, ‘Oh, don’t let us fight. Don’t let us do this.’ I said, ‘Okay, no problem, because I have a forgiving spirit.’ He complained to me…he doesn’t have a car, and I gave him a new car. He collected a new car, and he defected to another party.”
The governor dismissed the former governor’s current position as politically insignificant, saying it would not affect his chances in Saturday’s election.
“He’s a paperweight. I’m not worried about him. That’s not going to affect anything,” Mr Adeleke said.
The latest exchange comes days before Osun voters go to the poll to elect a governor, with Mr Adeleke seeking another term. The All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, is among the major challengers in the 14-party contest.
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