Tinubu to Adeleke: You won election, not war, use victory to unite Osun

• Says Atiku’s return-to-subsidy comment shows lack of understanding

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to use his victory in the recent governorship election to promote reconciliation, unity and stability in the state, rather than treat his political opponents as enemies.

Tinubu gave the advice yesterday when Adeleke visited him at the State House, Abuja, to express appreciation for what he described as the President’s role in ensuring a free and fair electoral process.

The President told Adeleke that his victory was not a conquest over his opponents but a mandate entrusted to him by the people, urging him to reach out to those who opposed him and avoid any form of victimisation.

“You did not conquer anybody. You won the election. That is the essence of democracy,” Tinubu told the governor.

He urged Adeleke to make reconciliation a cornerstone of his administration, saying the best way to appreciate the confidence reposed in him by the electorate was through his actions in office.

“All for the reconciliation, expand your coast. That is the only way you can give thanks to our people. Not the way you sang it or celebrated it. It’s the way you act it,” the President said.

Tinubu reminded Adeleke that political power was ultimately determined by the will of God and the people, urging him to use his position to strengthen peace and democratic stability in Osun.

“Where you are today, God put you there. Not the smartness of any of these people. It’s just their support, not their smartness. It is the wish of God that prevailed and the wish of the people for you,” he said.

According to the President, Adeleke was now in a “very, very unique position” to promote unity, peace and stability in the state.

Tinubu commended Adeleke and his political team for their mobilisation during the election, saying their performance reflected what he described as a “progressive instinct.”

He, however, cautioned the governor against using his victory to stigmatise or target political opponents.

“You saw fear. You screamed. Promote democracy. Promote stability. Promote rule of law. Don’t stigmatise any of your opponent,” Tinubu said.

He said democracy could only thrive when political actors accepted electoral outcomes and respected the rights of those on the opposing side.

“Anybody, any Democrat, anybody in the political environment who cannot celebrate the joy of free and fair election does not deserve the laughter and the happiness of democracy,” he said.

Tinubu further advised Adeleke not to make any individual a victim of his campaign, stressing that the governor’s responsibility extended beyond his immediate political interests to future generations.

“Don’t make a single individual a victim of your campaign. Don’t. Not for you alone. Not for the sake of us all alone. For the generations to come,” he said.

Atiku’s subsidy proposal

The President also used the occasion to defend his administration’s economic reforms and criticise calls by opposition figures to restore fuel subsidy.

Referring to a proposal by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to return to petrol subsidy, Tinubu described the position as evidence of what he called a lack of understanding of governance and economic realities.

“Let’s look at the trajectory of the history. I saw one of my opponents now say he will go back to subsidy. I read it. That is demonstration of a serious ignorance on governance and economy,” he said.

Tinubu recalled the financial difficulties confronting many states before his administration’s reforms, saying 27 states had previously struggled to pay workers’ salaries and meet their obligations to pensioners.

“Before I came here, 27 states are unable to pay salaries, not to even talk of pensioners, salary of workers,” he said.

He said government resources should instead be channelled into infrastructure and social services, including roads, housing, schools, hospitals and healthcare.

According to him, governments at all levels have a responsibility to improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians and protect vulnerable families.

“Ask common men, their families, to feed the infrastructure you embark upon on the road network, housing, school rehabilitation, hospital, health care pronouncements, resuscitation of health care, training of teachers, training of health workers to protect our vulnerable families,” Tinubu said.

He urged Adeleke to focus on delivering good governance to the people of Osun, saying the electorate had demonstrated their confidence in him.

“And the people of fortunate states pronounce their judgment on you, that they love you. They want you to govern. So you’re going back to govern,” he said.

Tinubu urged the governor to use the opportunity provided by his electoral victory to build bridges across political divides and strengthen democratic institutions.

“It’s more important for you to build a network of unities, unified tools, and everything,” he said.

The President expressed satisfaction with the meeting, describing it as an opportunity to reinforce the importance of reconciliation and democratic values.

“I’m so happy that we have this talk,” he said.

Earlier, Adeleke thanked Tinubu for what he described as the President’s role in allowing a free and fair election in Osun State.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the closed-door meeting, Adeleke said his visit was to appreciate the President for his contribution to sustaining democracy in Nigeria.

“I’m here to thank Mr. President, the father of the nation, because he fought for this democracy.

“That is why he allowed free and fair election, and that is the result. That is why I’m here, to say thank you, to ensure that democracy lives in Nigeria,” Adeleke said.

The governor arrived at the State House at about 5:20 p.m. and proceeded to the President’s office for the meeting.

He also presented his Certificate of Return to Tinubu following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.

Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party, polled 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes.

He won by a margin of 66,252 votes, securing victory in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11.

The victory secured Adeleke another four-year term after he was first elected governor in 2022 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Although he contested the 2026 election on the Accord Party platform, the Osun PDP backed his re-election bid and mobilised its members and supporters behind his candidacy.

Adeleke had earlier promised to visit the Presidential Villa with his Certificate of Return after securing re-election. He received the certificate from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, a day before his meeting with Tinubu.

The governor’s visit came against the backdrop of the political significance of the Osun election, with Adeleke’s acknowledgement of Tinubu’s role adding a notable dimension to the relationship between the two political leaders despite their different party affiliations.