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Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has revealed the condition that his elder brother, Deji Adeleke gave to him before supporting and bankrolling his governorship ambition during the 2022 governorship election.
Adeleke who defeated Adegboyega Oyetola in the July 16, 2022 governorship election, disclosed that after he lost his election in 2018, he went on self-exile to equip and prepare himself for governance.
The governor, while speaking at the 9th undergraduate convocation ceremony of Adeleke University in Ede on Sunday, September 3, said his elder brother, Deji Adeleke gave him a condition shortly after the 2018 governorship election that he should go back to school, else he would not support his (Governor Adeleke) governorship ambition in 2022.
He said: “Education makes a major difference in what and how we become anything in life. It is a tool we cannot do without; interestingly, getting well-educated is not time-bound. We all must have read several stories of people at advanced age enrolling and graduating from universities. You all know I am a living example of how best to pursue an educational degree despite my age.
“Today marks a year since my election as the governor of Osun State. Four years before then, in 2018, I was rigged out and our mandate was stolen. I was subjected to the worst personality attacks and assaults in Osun’s political history.
“Dr Deji Adeleke encouraged me to move ahead, before I went for self-exile, he called me to a meeting where we talked. He said I have been subjected to a lot of things that I am not educated. He advised that I should go to America for schooling. He said the only thing I could do for the Osun people if I was ready to be governor was to get educated, I must complete my education. Without completing it, he said I should forget my governorship ambition.
I said: “Se wahala o wa de bayi” (—hope this is not a problem?). At my age, 60. It was not an easy task but I did it.
“I went on self-exile for two major reasons. Firstly, to escape the evil plot of enemies who were not satisfied with stealing the people’s mandate. Secondly, to complete my degree programmes especially as my educational qualifications dominated the 2018 campaigns. Our age must never be a barrier to educational pursuit. What we need is commitment and passion to succeed.”
Credit: The Nation online
