Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke has accused former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of being unsupportive of the Adeleke family and working against his political ambition over the years.
Governor Adeleke made the allegation on Tuesday during an Arise Television town hall programme held ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.
The governor claimed that the late first Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, introduced Oyinlola to politics in the state after his retirement from the military and despite the support Oyinlola received from the Adeleke family, the former governor had not reciprocated the gesture.
“He has never supported the Adeleke family, but we have always supported him,” Adeleke said during the programme.
The governor further alleged that Oyinlola had repeatedly worked against his political aspirations and political career.
The remarks come amid growing political activities and alignments ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.
He further alleged that Mr Oyinlola opposed him during the 2022 governorship election by backing the then Secretary to the Osun State Government, Fatai Akinbade.
“In 2022, he did not support me. He went to bring the secretary to the state government, Akinbade,” Adeleke said.
Mr Adeleke’s comments come against the backdrop of Mr Oyinlola’s changing political position ahead of Saturday’s election in which the former governor publicly led a major faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to endorse Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election
Mr Adeleke, however, mocked the former governor’s influence, claiming that his presented candidate secured low votes in the election despite the ex-governor’s support.
He said the former governor subsequently approached him after his victory in the 2022 election seeking reconciliation.
According to Adeleke, he accepted the overture because of his willingness to forgive political opponents.
The governor also claimed that Oyinlola complained to him about not having a car, after which he gave him a new vehicle. However, Mr Adeleke alleged that the former governor subsequently changed his political position again and declined to support him.
The governor said Oyinlola opposed his political ambition during his bid for the Senate and later at the 2018 and 2022 governorship elections.
“He is Jealous of the Adeleke family. Gov Oyinlola opposed me during the 2022 governorship election by backing the then Secretary to the Osun State Government, Fatai Akinbade.
“In 2022, he did not support me. He went to go and bring the secretary to the state government, Akinbade.
“Immediately I won, he came back to me. Say, ‘Oh, don’t let us fight. Don’t let us do this.’ I said, ‘Okay, no problem, because I have a forgiving spirit.’ He complained to me…he doesn’t have a car, and I gave him a new car. He collected a new car, and he defected to another party.”
“He’s a paperweight. I’m not worried about him. That’s not going to affect anything,” Adeleke said.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
