Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of turning against him despite what he described as his support and generosity towards the former military officer.
Adeleke made the allegation on Tuesday during an Arise News town hall meeting in Osogbo, where he spoke about his political relationship with Oyinlola and the former governor’s decision to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The governor claimed that Oyinlola had never supported the Adeleke family politically, despite the family allegedly supporting him over the years.
Adeleke recalled that Oyinlola had contested against his late brother, Isiaka Adeleke, who was the first elected governor of Osun State, adding that his brother had helped bring Oyinlola into politics after his retirement from the military.
He said Oyinlola subsequently failed to support him during his bids for the Senate and the governorship in 2018 and 2022.
According to Adeleke, Oyinlola instead backed other political candidates, including former Secretary to the Osun State Government, Fatai Akinbade.
The governor said the candidates supported by Oyinlola suffered heavy defeats at the polls, claiming that they managed only about 7,000 votes across the state.
Adeleke further claimed that he had consistently defeated Oyinlola and his preferred candidates even in the former governor’s hometown and polling unit.
But the governor said the relationship took a different turn after he won the 2022 governorship election.
Adeleke alleged that Oyinlola approached him after his victory and complained that he did not have a car.
The governor said he responded by giving the former governor a new car.
However, Adeleke expressed surprise that Oyinlola later moved to the Allied People’s Movement (APM) and eventually endorsed Oyebamiji, the APC candidate, for Saturday’s election.
Adeleke said: “Immediately I won, he came back to me that he didn’t have a car. I gave him a new car. He collected the car, went to APM, and two days ago, he endorsed the APC candidate.”
The governor also described Oyinlola as being jealous of the Adeleke family, insisting that his latest political alignment only confirmed what he said had been a longstanding pattern of opposition to the family.
Adeleke’s comments come amid a fierce campaign battle in Osun, with the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration seeking another mandate against Oyebamiji and other candidates in the August 15 poll.
The election has already been marked by intense political rivalry, accusations and controversies, with the major parties stepping up their campaigns ahead of voting day.
Oyinlola’s endorsement of Oyebamiji has therefore added another political dimension to the contest, particularly given his history with the Adeleke family and his previous role as governor of Osun.
The former governor served as Osun governor from 2003 to 2010 and remains an influential figure in the state’s political landscape.
