Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has ruled out any possibility of defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naija News reports that rumours of Adeleke’s possible defection to the APC emerged following his separate visits to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Abuja on Thursday.
However, Adeleke, speaking through his Campaign Council Spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, while addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, said the Governor is not joining the APC.
He said, “The essence of that visit has nothing to do with Governor Ademola Adeleke joining APC. It’s an impossibility. Governor Ademola Adeleke is not joining APC.
“But I can assure you that Governor Ademola Adeleke will work with the Federal Government to ensure that there’s progress in Nigeria and, of course, in Osun State.”
Olajengbesi said Adeleke’s visit to Tinubu demonstrated respect for the office of the President, stressing that the governor remained a member of his political party.
According to Olajengbesi, Adeleke’s visit also aimed to thank Tinubu for providing a level playing field during the just-concluded Osun State governorship election.
He added that Adeleke also used the meeting with Tinubu to advocate for healing and unity in Osun State after the election.
He stated, “The visit of Governor Ademola Adeleke to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the proper thing to do. It is the norm; it is the standard.
“We all agree that Nigeria is a federation. We have three tiers of government, the Federal Government, the state government and, of course, the local government.
“Osun State is a sub-nation now under the Nigerian government, and we don’t intend to take Osun State out of Nigeria. So we understand, and I think the governor deemed it necessary to pay a courtesy call to Mr President as a sign of respect to the office of the President.
“The visit of Mr Governor to Mr President is not taking the people of Osun State for granted, but the intention is to amplify the aspiration of the people of Osun State.
“Mr President has said to Mr Governor that this is the best time for us to unite our people in Osun State. And he’s in line with the speech and the position of Mr Governor, that it is time to heal the wound of the people of Osun State.”
