Follow Us on Google
African Democratic Congress chieftain and publisher, Dele Momodu, has described Saturday’s Osun State governorship election as a contest between Governor Ademola Adeleke and President Bola Tinubu, rather than a direct battle between Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress.
Momodu made the assertion on Wednesday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, ahead of the August 15 election.
According to him, the APC lacks the political strength to challenge Adeleke in the state, arguing that the real contest is between the governor and the influence of the Tinubu-led Federal Government.
“The battle in Osun is not a contest between Adeleke and the APC; it is between Adeleke and President Bola Tinubu. APC is no match for Adeleke in Osun. Everybody agrees on that.
They can make all the noise and hullabaloo, but I can tell you today that even the presidency knows. I have a lot of friends in APC; they know they cannot match Ademola Adeleke,” he said.
Momodu also defended his support for Adeleke, describing the governor as a close friend and praising his performance since assuming office.
“He’s being bullied, he’s being intimidated, and all men and women of good conscience should rise up whether you are in our party or wherever,” he said.
He added, “Even if I was not in ADC, I would still have supported Ademola. He’s a fantastic soul. Only a wicked man will see the good work he has done in Osun State and ignore it.
If my party says they are not ready to back him, that is fine. On this occasion, they should please loan me to Ademola Adeleke.”
The ADC chieftain, who described the APC’s record in Osun as “a failure”, also appealed to Tinubu to intervene amid the growing political tension surrounding the election.
“President Bola Tinubu, if you’re watching me, I am begging you. We are embarrassed. Everywhere we go, people ask us, ‘What is wrong?
What happened? What went wrong?’ Once upon a time, you fought for democracy, so what has gone wrong? This change about power by all force is unnecessary,” Momodu said.
He, however, commended the President for what he described as his intervention in the freezing of the Osun State Government’s account, saying such actions could help restore confidence in Tinubu’s democratic credentials.
“I must say thank you for the Osun freezing account that you intervened positively. If you go in that direction henceforth, maybe you can redeem that legacy that you were trying to build,” he said.
Momodu also warned against political violence, urging Tinubu to restrain individuals allegedly invoking his name to threaten political opponents.
“The people are dropping your name to kill people. The blood will be on your head at the end of the day. Someone must be able to tell you the truth that this is absolutely unnecessary,” he said.
His comments came amid heightened political activity in Osun ahead of Saturday’s election, with Governor Adeleke seeking a second term and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji emerging as his major challenger.
ADC candidate and former governor Rauf Aregbesola is also seeking to influence the outcome of the poll.
