The underestimated, lively, and ever-bubbling but performing Governor Adeleke, who has turned different parts of Osun State into construction sites barely two years into his first term in the saddle, has changed the perception of critics that he does not have what it takes to govern a state.
To compliment Governor Adeleke’s good works, whose love for dancing has earned him the sobriquet ‘Dancing Governor,’ former President Olusegun Obasanjo once remarked that he would rather join Governor Adeleke’s dancing steps as he takes Osun to high places.
The son of the Adeleke Dynasty of Ede, who used his first eleven months as governor to address the infrastructural deficit he inherited, has since embarked on and completed a network of road projects he initiated state-wide. To crown it all, he launched an N100-billion infrastructural development funding that has witnessed advanced stages of completion without securing loans for execution.
When completed, Governor Adeleke’s flyover bridges located in strategic locations in Osogbo, the state capital, Ile-Ife and the dual carriageways in Ilesa and Ede will positively impact the gridlock that used to be the lot of these metropolitan cities. It is important to note here that in accordance with one of his 5-point agenda, Adeleke ensured that local content was prioritised in terms of human and material resources in all his projects to prevent capital flight and ensure financial inclusion.
Governor Adeleke prioritises the welfare of his subjects, as demonstrated by his making workers’ and retirees’ welfare the first-line charge for fund allocation.
During his campaign for the seat of governor, Adeleke promised Osun workers that he would pay the backlog of part salaries owed by his predecessors – which some people believed was impossible, but Adeleke has largely fulfilled his promise, with only few months left to be paid. In the light of the fulfilled promise to them, Osun workers declared him as ‘The Man of The People’.
His concern for food security informed the procurement of tractors and distribution of seedlings, herbicides, and cassava cuttings, among others, to farmers and women associations and the release of huge funds to poultry farmers participating in the Osun Broilers Outgrower Production Scheme.
In the education sector, Governor Adeleke resuscitated bursary awards to students in tertiary institutions. He also ensured the take-off of the Ilesa University by providing funds and ensuring that existing institutions do not suffer lack.
The health sector also received a boost under Governor Adeleke’s administration, with the upgrade of over 120 health centres out of the planned 345 in the state’s 335 wards. This is in addition to the periodic free medical outreaches involving medical consultations, with eye surgeries periodically rotated in the state’s three senatorial districts.
Adeleke started his political career in 2001 alongside his late brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, who died in April 2017.
He wanted to contest the senatorial by-election of Osun West Senatorial seat after the demise of his brother who was occupying the seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress but had to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party when it was obvious that he would be denied the candidacy of APC.
A greenhorn in political elective post at such a high level, Ademola Adeleke won the election to the senatorial seat his brother vacated on account of death in 2017, even while the APC was the ruling party in the state.
He also emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, defeating a strong contender at the party primary election on July 23, 2018.
All attempt to hijack his candidature through litigations on alleged irregularities in his academic qualifications failed as the courts ruled in his favour.
Adeleke lost the election at the re-run level and headed for the tribunal. The impasse was however resolved at the Supreme Court where the jurists dismissed his request and affirmed Adegboyega Oyetola as governor. He believes till today that he was robbed of the 2018 governorship election in Osun State,
A dogged fighter, Adeleke went back to school to prove further his academic prowess shortly after the determination of the 2018 gubernatorial suit. He got enrolled at Atlanta Metropolitan State College in the United States of America where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2021.
Armed with the degree certificate, Adeleke made another attempt at the exalted seat of Osun governor. In the gubernatorial election of July 16, 2022, Adeleke defeated the incumbent, Oyetola. He triumphed with 402,979 votes to Oyetola’s 375,977 votes. He also won in 17 of the 30 local government areas of the state.
Adeleke also served on several national governmental committees including being the representative of the South West on the National Minimum Wage Committee.
Before his foray into politics, Adeleke was a businessman and administrator. He served as an executive director of Guinness Nigeria PLC from 1992 to 1999, where his co-directors included General Theophilus Danjuma. He was the group executive director at his brother’s company, Pacific Holdings Limited from 2001 to 2016.
Prior to joining Pacific Holdings Limited, Ademola Adeleke had worked with Quicksilver Courier Company in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, as a service contractor from 1985 – 1989. He progressed to Origin International LLC, Atlanta, USA, a flavour and fragrance manufacturing company as vice president from 1990 to 1994.
The Asiwaju of Ede land, who is a brother to the global business mogul, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, is a strong family man, an avid sports lover, a man with incessant passion for praising and adoring God the Almighty.
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