For 4 Years, This Man Has Been Dancing, Governor Okpebholo Mocks Adeleke’s Dancing At Osun Rally

Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, has mocked Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, over his trademark dance routines, accusing him of prioritising entertainment over governance as political campaigns intensify ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

Okpebholo made the remarks while addressing supporters at an All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in support of the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, amid heightened political tension in the state.

The Osun governorship race has dominated national discourse in recent days, with the state’s political atmosphere becoming increasingly charged following the freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a move condemned by Governor Adeleke and opposition leaders as politically motivated. The EFCC, however, has maintained that its action is tied to an ongoing investigation.

Speaking at the rally, Okpebholo questioned Adeleke’s style of leadership, claiming the governor spends more time dancing than attending to governance.

He said, “Before somebody sign paper, he will dance, are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing, before he take breakfast, before he drink tea, he will dance. I was asking my friend now, I said I can’t even remembered when I saw this man in our general meeting. Before he even enter the plane, he will dance. Before he gets there, we have closed. So, he won’t know what we are saying, he doesn’t know the reality of today.”

The Edo governor also urged Osun voters to reject inducements at the polls, while alleging that political opponents intended to influence the election through vote buying.

According to him, “If they bring money, chop that money from them but don’t vote for them. They said, they have money to spend, is that not so? Just collect the money, keep it in your pocket.”

Okpebholo further linked Adeleke to former Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, saying Osun voters should vote out the incumbent just as, according to him, Edo voters rejected Obaseki’s political camp.

He said, “That man is Obaseki’s friend, you know we kicked Obaseki out of Edo, so we have to kick his friend out of this place too. Edo people chop Obaseki’s money but they never vote for him, but they kick him out, so we have to kick his friend out of this place too.”

Questioning Adeleke’s performance in office, the governor added, “A governor that is not working, the best thing to do is to send him out of that state. If he is not working, what business does he have here? Are you not tired of dancing, dancing, dancing governor?”

Okpebholo’s remarks add to a series of political exchanges that have characterised campaigns ahead of the governorship election.

This comes on the back drop of political fracas taking place in Osun state,  where Governor Adeleke has repeatedly accused the APC-led Federal Government of attempting to influence the outcome of the election, particularly following the EFCC’s decision to freeze the state’s statutory allocation account. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also criticised the action, describing it as an assault on democracy and alleging that anti-corruption agencies were being deployed against opposition-controlled states.

The APC has, however, dismissed the allegations, insisting that the election will be free and fair while urging voters to support its candidate.

With campaigns entering their final phase, political parties have intensified rallies across the state, as security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continue preparations for what is expected to be one of Nigeria’s most closely watched off-cycle governorship elections.