The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ajibola Basiru, has explained his decision to challenge Governor Ademola Adeleke in the upcoming Osun governorship election, citing what he described as the governor’s inability to steer the state toward meaningful development.
In a statement released by his media office on Wednesday to commemorate Governor Adeleke’s 65th birthday, the former senator expressed concerns over the leadership style and administrative direction of the state.
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According to him, Osun State can no longer afford to be under the control of someone he believes lacks the vision and managerial structure to bring about prosperity.
The statement criticized the governor’s frequent absence from the state, claiming that his travels have hampered effective governance and that there is no competent team in place to run the administration during his absence.
“While we salute him on his birthday, we like to remind him that Sen. Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru Ph.D is contesting to unseat him because of the obvious lapses he has noticed in the current administration in our dear state. The governance of our dear state cannot continue to be entrusted in the hands of someone like Governor Adeleke. We need a governor with idea and who is surrounded by development-driven individuals. He cannot continue to use few days in Osun and the other remaining days outside. We would have pardoned his frequent travels if he had capable hands to leave the administration with but no. We have, together with our principal, consulted widely and that is why he has thrown his hat in the ring. He wants to salvage the plight of our people.”
Further addressing specific concerns, the statement pointed to the decline in key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, education, and healthcare. It also alleged poor financial accountability by the current administration.
“One does not need anyone to say it to know that Osun’s agricultural sector is almost dead. Nothing seems to be working under the current administration. No single company has been established or opened under this current tenure. Tourism in Osun is at its lowest patronage.
“Our educational sector has nosedived. What do we expect when teachers are sacked and not replaced. The health sector is nothing to write home about. The money accrued to the state in the last 30months has been spent recklessly. The state government should publicly come out to tell the people how their funds are spent.
“A good leader doesn’t take the people to where they want, he takes them to where they ought to be. Our state is fast losing the gains of the past. So while we wish him all the best life can offer, we like to remind him that Sen. Basiru is contesting to unseat him. And we know the outgoing governor would be proud of his successor when he takes over from him in 2026,” the statement added.
Despite the criticism, the statement clarified that Dr. Basiru holds no personal animosity toward Governor Adeleke. It emphasized the APC’s commitment to democratic values and respect for the people’s mandate in the last election.
The statement further stated that Basiru is not nursing any ill feelings against the Governor, saying “we want to join the good people of Osun Stare to celebrate our governor and brother, His Excellency, Sen. Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke as he clocked 65. For us, we nurse no hatred against him especially as he celebrates his birthday. So we congratulate him. The politics we are all involved in is because of the betterment of our state.
“Being a knowledgeable people and apart from the fact that our principal is a lawyer by profession who adheres to the tenets of democracy, we don’t see politics as a do-or-die affair. When Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke defeated us in the last election, we respected the people’s wish.”
, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, has explained his decision to challenge Governor Ademola Adeleke in the upcoming Osun governorship election, citing what he described as the governor’s inability to steer the state toward meaningful development.){kind=link}