Adeleke: I’m teaching opposition in Osun how to play politics… state belongs to all

Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, says he is teaching the opposition in the state how to play politics the right way.

Adeleke spoke when he featured on NewsNight, a Channels TV programme on Monday.

Asked if he was concerned that some people think he is antagonistic to the opposition, Adeleke described himself as an amiable person who would not repay evil with evil.

“Let me tell you, I’m a very friendly person, very amiable. The way I play politics, I’m teaching them how to play politics,” he said.

“What the opposition is playing is dirty politics. Power belongs to the people. They have the right to elect who they want. It’s not by force. They want to force it but it won’t work, Osun people are wiser.

“I can’t chase them out of Osun. I believe that after the whole campaign, the election is gone and somebody emerges, I draw them nearer.

“For example, look at Oyetola, during the ministerial appointment, I called my three senators, they were wondering the type of person I am because when we were in opposition, they didn’t give us a breathing space.

“Even when we wanted to campaign, Oyetola would not release the stadium to be used.

“We used our party secretariat; people blocked all the roads. They were embarrassed. Now, their turn when I became governor, they wanted to use the stadium and I said go and use it.

“A lot of people from my party were saying ‘why can’t you revenge’ but I told them I don’t have to do it.

“I said let me teach them, I don’t have to do that. Let them have the burden that when they were there they did not release the stadium. Everybody is free to go their way.

“We are not hostile. I am teaching them how to do politics. I am not hostile to them; we welcome them but any opposition that wants to destabilise my state, I am not going to accept that.”

‘DESTABILISATION IS BRINGING CHAOS TO OSUN’

Adeleke explained that bringing chaos and trouble to the state is what he considers destabilisation, adding that the opposition has the right to question his government.

“They have the right to ask questions and I will answer them, they have the right to do that,” he said.

“We won’t even say we’re fighting them because they asked questions. They deserve a right to know. That is what opposition does; to keep incumbents on their toes. I like it.

“That is not what I mean by destabilising because they have the right to question the incumbent because it is their state too and we have the right to answer them.

“I am there to serve. I am their governor. I am not PDP or APC governor. I am Osun state governor.

“Destabilisation I am talking about is trying to cause chaos, trouble in the state, that one I will not take. In terms of constructive criticism, ask questions, and we will give it to them.

“Each time they try to put us down, when they go low, we go high. We answer them and they shut up.”

He added that he wants the people to understand what governance really is and advised his counterparts to treat their predecessors right.

“Maybe your predecessor did not treat you right, treat them right, maybe they will have a rethink. That is what I am doing in Osun,” he said.

“I want to make Osun state a reference point where everything is done with the fear of God, rule of law, and due process.”