The political battle ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State has taken another turn after Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, hit back at Governor Ademola Adeleke over allegations of intimidation involving APC members and leaders of the Accord Party.
Oyetola dismissed Adeleke’s complaints as a sign that the governor had realised he was losing his grip on the state, while also warning that the governor should prepare for defeat in the election.
In Brief
The former Osun State governor made the remarks on Saturday while addressing All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders and supporters in the state.
He was reacting to allegations by Adeleke that APC members and leaders of the Accord Party were being intimidated ahead of the August 15 poll.
Oyetola said Adeleke’s complaints suggested that the governor was already losing political ground and argued that his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu would not be enough to retain his administration in power.
What Happened?
Speaking in Yoruba, Oyetola said the concerns raised by Adeleke showed that those behind the complaints had realised they were losing out politically.
He also challenged the governor’s position on endorsements, saying such endorsements would not prevent the APC from taking over the state.
“They realised that they are already losing out. Then they claimed to have endorsed us. He almost cried. Endorsement cannot retain this seat for you. We are taking it over,” Oyetola said.
“If you like, make 10 endorsements, we will collect this one from you.”
The minister further said he had deliberately avoided engaging Adeleke in public exchanges despite the governor’s repeated references to him.
Stakeholder Positions
Adeleke had raised concerns over alleged intimidation of APC members and leaders of the Accord Party ahead of the governorship election.
Oyetola, however, interpreted the governor’s complaints differently, arguing that they reflected concern over his political standing in the state.
He also rejected the suggestion that Adeleke’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu would help him retain control of Osun.
Rather, Oyetola maintained that the APC was positioned to take over the state in the forthcoming election.
Key Players
Oyetola, a former governor of Osun State and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, remains a prominent APC figure in the state.
Adeleke is the incumbent governor and the principal political figure on the other side of the exchange.
The APC and Accord Party also feature in the dispute following the allegations of intimidation raised in relation to their members and leaders ahead of the poll.
Key Quotes
Oyetola dismissed Adeleke’s repeated references to him with a sarcastic remark.
“If he sleeps and has nightmares, he will say he saw me. If his wife gave him food late, he would say I’m responsible for that.”
He added that Adeleke appeared to mention his name frequently despite his claim that he had deliberately stayed away from engaging the governor publicly.
“My name is so sweet in his mouth. Meanwhile, we are not even interested in his case. If we get interested in his case, he will feel it,” Oyetola said.
Background
The exchange comes ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, with political actors already making competing claims about the strength of their respective positions.
Oyetola’s latest remarks followed Adeleke’s allegations concerning intimidation, giving the election campaign another point of political confrontation between figures associated with the two sides.
Current Situation
With the governorship election approaching, Oyetola has maintained that the APC is capable of taking control of the state despite Adeleke’s political positioning.
The minister also used his remarks to dismiss the governor’s references to him and reinforce his prediction that the APC would defeat the incumbent administration at the polls.
The political exchange adds another layer to the contest as both sides continue to position themselves ahead of the election.
