Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has dismissed former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, saying the development would have no significant impact on Saturday’s election.
Adeleke made the assertion on Tuesday during the Arise News Town Hall; debate in Osogbo, where he also questioned Oyinlola’s political influence, describing the former governor as a “paperweight”.
Oyinlola, a former governor of Osun State and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recently threw his weight behind Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, ahead of the August 15 governorship poll.
But Adeleke said the endorsement did not come as a surprise to him, alleging that Oyinlola had never supported his political aspirations or those of his family.
The governor recalled that Oyinlola did not support him during his bid for the Senate in the 2017 election, the 2018 governorship election or the 2022 governorship contest, when Adeleke emerged victorious.
“Oyinlola never supported the Adeleke family, and we have always supported him. It is good that he didn’t support me because if he had supported me, anything could happen,” Adeleke said.
The governor also disclosed that Oyinlola approached him after his victory in the 2022 election, asking that they should not become political adversaries.
Adeleke said he accepted the former governor’s appeal because he considered himself a forgiving person.
He further claimed that he had extended personal assistance to Oyinlola after the former governor complained that he did not have a vehicle, alleging that he subsequently gave him a new car.
Reacting to the former governor’s decision to support Oyebamiji, Adeleke said he was not concerned about the political consequences of the endorsement.
“He is a paperweight. I’m not worried about him. He is not going to affect anything,” the governor said.
Adeleke, who is seeking re-election, expressed confidence in his chances of retaining the governorship, urging voters to judge his administration based on its record rather than endorsements by political figures.
The August 15 election is expected to be closely contested, with Adeleke of the Accord Party facing Oyebamiji of the APC and RT Honourable Najeem Salam of ADC among others.
