Olawale Rasheed, the Spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, a Special Adviser and a member of the Osun State Executive Council. He speaks on Osun politics, his journey in life and memories as a former member of the Tribune family in this personality interview with journalists in Osogbo to mark his 60th birthday anniversary yesterday.
Our Correspondent, Richard Akintade represented AljazirahNigeria.
Excerpts :-
Q. How has the journey of life been?
I give thanks to God Almighty. It has been both rough and sweet. We had no silver spoon but here we are in good health and divine grace. Reaching this stage in life draws me closer to God, for the creator of heaven and earth has been too good to me.
So when I look back and see where we are and where we are going, I am convinced to further increase my thankfulness to God. I must also express gratitude to our destiny helpers along the line.
Professionally, my dear Don’s and leaders, Mr Folu Olamiti, Pastor Segun Olatunji, Dapo Ogunwusi and Mr Edward Dickson of Tribune family, my old bosses and political fathers namely, late Chief SM Afolabi, Senator Oluwole Alabi, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, and Hon Mohammed Waki.
I have bosses in the policy advocacy sector namely, former Attorney General and Defence Minister, Prince Tokunbo Kayode and Prof Adesoji Adesugba, great leaders of Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Nigeria. In the religious sector, I am ever indebted to late Sheikh Rauf Olododo, late Sheikh Abdulahi Salaty, late Mufty of Ilorin, Baba Apaokagi, Sheikh Imran Audio and our great Sheikh, the current Mufti of Ilorin, Sheikh Suleiman Favour, many others.
Of course, it is a great privilege to be a lifelong member of the Adeleke dynasty where I have multiple mentors, fathers, leaders and a political mother.
From the President of the Adeleke dynasty, Governor Ademola Adeleke to our godfather, Dr Deji Adeleke, the global business mogul to our godmother, Yeyeluwa Dupe Adeleke and to my two political bosses, Hon (Sheu) Kazeem Akinleye, Chief of Staff to the Governor and Dr Bashiru Tokunbo Salami, we owe a lot. Again, it has been great sailing with God.
Q. You have seen a lot locally and nationally, can you mention the most significant events that stick in your memory?
Yes it is true, a lot of moments are hardly difficult to forget. There was a time when the late Speaker of the House, Hon Ghali Naaba barred me from entering the House of Representatives in those days of Presidency-House face off. I was fingered in the Naaba-must-go-media warfare. Luckily for me, he was overruled after a dramatic show of almost two days. I won’t forget in a hurry, the day late Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo called out to the Tribune and me, the reporter on the floor of Senate. The intellectual giant and flamboyant politician followed it up with a direct search for me at the Senate lobby, blaring out “Where is that Tribune reporter?” I showed up among the reporters and the Number Three Citizen was holding a Tribune copy with our lead story, angrily querying, “where did you get this story?. In the great Tribune tradition, I boldly strolled out, saying “we stand by our story”. Then, there was that unfortunate era when late Chief Bola Ige was accused of financial issues and had to attend a Senate hearing relating to the power sector.
The narrative was somehow skewed in the mainstream reporting.
Q. Why are you into politics dropping journalism, was there any regret?
I noted before that I was born into a political family. I was actually a politician before joining journalism. So, my current partisan politics is like a return to base.
The reason is that, politics is the most noble of all human endeavour as it focuses on acquisition and development of state power. So, I have no regrets. It is an honour to be part of a party under great man, Sunday Bisi and a government under Asiwaju Ademola Adeleke who is widely known and seen to be a super agent of good governance. You won’t regret it when you are privileged to be part of a team that is addressing multiple developmental challenges facing our dear state of Osun.
I want to give thanks to the Almighty Allah for giving me the opportunity to witness my 60th birthday anniversary, “It is not my making but the Almighty Allah whom the honour and appreciation belongs to”.
Q. Presently, you work for one of the most popular Governors, what manner of person is Governor Ademola Adeleke?
Yes, my principal is the most deeply intelligent, amiable and charismatic administrator I ever met. His capacity to read and understand human nature knows no bounds.
He has clean heart and has no space for grudges. His openness to new ideas is astounding. He is a team player as long as the focus is public good. You may run into issues with him if your motives are less than noble.
He detests corruption so deeply that he will endlessly lecture his team about public probity and accountability.
Many know him at first as a dancing Governor, two years after, the world recognizes Mr Governor as Mr Performer, Action Governor, Mr Infrastructure, Mr Talk and Do among others. Inside the dancing Governor is a personality with unwavering passion for good governance and its delivery at the minimum cost with local content among others.
What is the scorecard of the administration
Within two years, Mr Governor constructed over 150 kilometers of roads, rehabilitated 200 heath centers and over 100 schools, paid 48 billion naira in pension debt, liquidated substantial half salary debt, reduced Osun debt by over 40%, launched an ongoing multi-billion naira infra agenda, realized the vision of University of Ilesa, completed abandoned projects at Osun State University, UNIOSUN, approved free medical care for Osun pensioners, disbursed over N4 billion naira for cooperative and artisans in Osun State, restored professionalism within the state public service, purchased 31 tractors after 14 years, created and launched Osun ICT policy and digital economy agenda, launched the Osun statewide agro-preneur project and enforced local content in project implementation alongside the slogan: “Osun Money for Osun Development”. Currently, another 100 kilometers of road is under construction while work is been fast tracked on dualisation of road at Ilesa as well as flyover bridges at Osogbo and Ile-Ife. The good performance of Mr Governor has earned him accolades from far and near.
We notice a close working relationship between Osun State and the Federal Government. Is your Governor moving into the All Progressives Congress, APC?
Let me tell you, the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke places emphasis on delivering on good governance rather than politics. In pursuance of that policy, Mr Governor opens the doors of the subnational level to partner with the center. So, the state has a rapid response approach to all federal requests for partnership across the sectors.
This approach championed by Mr Governor ensures that Osun keys into all federal programmes without partisan considerations.
The First Lady of the Republic has visited Osun three times and was fully hosted by Mr Governor. I think that Osun should be commended for placing good governance above partisan bickering and fighting.
But that does not point to any possibility of cross carpeting. Governor Adeleke is not leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. As a governor with over 90% approval rating, he has no reason to quit the largest political party, PDP. Mr Governor is however a great supporter of President Tinubu. He has nothing against his re-election as long as the majority electorate voted for him.
The general understanding is that Mr President also has nothing against the re-election of Governor Adeleke. That probably explains why former Governor Oyetola may not be contesting in 2026 according to reports. More seriously is that only Mr Governor can deliver clean overwhelming Osun votes for the President in 2027 if such needs ever arises. As the Governor has enormous street credibility, it is politically pointless and damaging to contemplate fighting the re-election of such a popular subnational leader.
Can Your Principal Win Re-election In 2026?
Governor Adeleke has always won elections in Osun State. In 2018, we were rigged out and the whole world attested to it. Mr Governor won in 2022 and his performance so far confirms that there is no vacancy in Abere for 2026. The issue is that the Osun APC is not electable. On a daily basis, the Osun APC embarrasses Mr President by its past failure and its glaring incompetency as an opposition. Many leaders in Abuja are ashamed of the conduct of APC leaders in the state. Sometimes ago, a survey disclosed that Osun APC has lost 45 percent of its membership. The report noted that the loss was mainly from the Oyetola camp.
Osun APC has suffered almost weekly defection. What remains of the opposition is now split into several factions. By all accounts, Governor Ademola Adeleke is on the road to winning a resounding re-election in the next 18 months.
You Contested for Governorship before; Do you have a plan to succeed your boss after second term in 2030 ?
Let me tell you, I have no such plan o. My assignment as directed by my principal and our leaders is to promote and defend Mr Governor. That is the task at hand. The second is to work assiduously for the re-election of Mr Governor.
Within the Adeleke dynasty, we don’t pursue ambition. We have leaders who set the direction of the game.
