In an exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, reflected on his experiences over the past two years in office.
Despite skepticism surrounding his leadership, Adeleke has made significant strides in addressing the state’s challenges.
Adeleke, who overcame what he called a “cheating” defeat in the 2018 election, emphasized the role of divine intervention in his political journey. “God said that my time will come and it was a street victory,” he explained. “It’s not easy to defeat an incumbent in Africa, especially in Nigeria here. But I did, there’s nothing they could do about it.”
Despite the early criticisms labeling him the “dancing senator,” Adeleke wasted no time implementing his plans. “I laid out my blueprints silently and immediately I was sworn in, I began with action,” he said.
The governor also discussed the challenges he faced upon taking office, including the looting of the Government House, which delayed his move into the official residence for over a year. “They looted the whole place; it took me one year to move into the Government House,” he said, adding that he did not focus on probing the incident due to the state’s overwhelming debt of N60 billion.
Highlighting his achievements, Adeleke pointed to his significant infrastructure development, with 150 kilometers of road projects completed. “I made sure that I fit in the infrastructure, the roads and even bridges that I’m doing at the same time,” he said. “In Ilesha, they’ve never had it so good.”
The governor attributed funding for these projects to increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), efficient tax collection, and prudent financial management. “I blocked all the leakages to the extent that no godfather can take advantage of the system,” Adeleke stated.
On mining, he revealed that the state has resumed operations, generating revenue through a new mining license. “We are now making money from mining. Now we have a shareholder license,” he said.
Despite the state’s financial challenges, Adeleke remains focused on improving infrastructure and providing for the people of Osun. “For security votes, I don’t touch it. I left it there,” he concluded, stressing his commitment to responsible governance.