Sen. Ademola Adeleke "danced" To Victory
I write to the popular dancing senator whose mandate was surreptitiously stolen in the 2018 Osun State governorship election. Though, the Court held otherwise. Yet, at the slightest opportunity, the Supreme Court of the Masses overruled that sentence. On July 16, 2022, the people proved that asides from God who is the ultimate ruler, power truly belongs to the people by placing the Oyetola led-administration on trial, and on the 17th of July, 2022, the sentence was to entrust power to the dancing senator.
Just like Nathaniel in the Holy Bible who asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?", politics and politicking took their due course, the dancing senator was mocked and scorned, with varying propaganda and scandal high plying, and the people were asked rhetorically, “Can anything good come out of a dancing senator?”. Nonetheless, just like Philip’s response to Nathaniel, so also do we say, “Come and See, that same dancing senator has triumphed. He danced to victory and will dance to the State government house”
Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, a philanthropist, sympathetic and empathetic politician, became a Senator after contesting the bye-election of the PDP due to the death of his brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the first civilian governor of Osun State. No doubt, Senator Ademola Adeleke is not the most eloquent of speakers, however, it is very much important to remind ourselves that eloquence in speech does not translate to administrative expertise or good governance.
Asides from the physical look, philanthropy, and goodwill for the people that run in Adeleke Dynasty, the dancing senator shares a lot of similarities with his late brother. The late Isiaka Adeleke was not the best of speakers, but as far as governance is concerned, he is often adjudged as the best the state ever witnessed to date. Good governance translates beyond mere speeches, it includes but is not limited to competence, skills, capacity, being empathetic to the plight of the people, and able to positively impact their lives, and as far as I and the people of Osun are concerned, the Late Isiaka Adeleke ticks that box and in the dancing Senator we see all these attributes multiplied.
Sen. Ademola Adeleke, earlier this year described himself as a goal getter and narrated how he established and successfully built and managed a series of thriving businesses which are now multinationals. Thus, I am more than confident that the dancing senator will readily deploy his business and entrepreneurial acumen in his governance geared towards increasing the internally generated revenue of the state which is the second lowest in the South-West.
Amidst the certificate scandal of the last election, we saw the readiness and preparedness of the dancing Senator, by putting to rest the long overdue controversy when he went back to school, enrolled at the Atlanta Metropolitan State College in the United States, and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, and at different times during the governorship debate, we all saw the dancing senator intermittently referring to himself a Security expert alongside spilling facts authoritatively telling the audience to fact check – that is the kind of leader the people of Osun State need, one who is confident, relentless and will go at any length, one whose family will support with whatever resources it takes to ensure that the lives of the people are bettered.
Let us even sheepishly concede briefly to the cheap certificate scandal surrounding his candidacy in the last election which has now been drowned to the great beyond, years back, upon the return of the dancing senator from the US to Nigeria, his brother being aware of his business exploits speedily appointed him as the Executive Director of Pacific Holdings, in recognition of his antecedent as a man who has been distinguished by building a business from the scratch to the sky. While some may say it was mere family ties that got him the position at his brother’s company and not skills, competence, and hard work, then what more can be said when he held that same position in Guinness Nigeria Limited with the likes of General TY Danjuma on board.
The Dancing Senator is more than capable, and people have reiterated their confidence in him at the polls. The People have spoken - Let no man trouble him! God has commanded the light to be, the light shineth forth from darkness and darkness comprehend it not. Amidst all of these, the just concluded election gives a glimpse of hope that a better Nigeria is possible, and this is not unconnected to the 2022 Electoral Act which seeks to strengthen the credibility of Nigeria Elections by introducing innovations and addressing the defects of the Electoral Act, 2010. And most importantly, the provision for the electronic transmission of results. It is time we got our PVCs, find the nearest center to register, as voter registration closes end of this month. Votes still count!
Lastly, let him that thinks he stands to take heed lest he falls, and to bad governance everywhere, the death of one’s mate elsewhere is a reminder of one’s mortality anywhere. Nigerians deserve better, we need good governance and nothing short of it. Congratulations to the Governor and Deputy Governor-Elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke and Mr. Kola Adewusi. IMOLE TI DE!
Alabi Ayokunmi Ayomikun is a graduate of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, he can be reached via [email protected]