Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has opened up about his administration’s journey over the past two years, revealing the challenges he has faced and the reforms he has implemented to improve governance.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, Adeleke addressed public perceptions about his leadership, his infrastructure projects, and how he has managed state resources.
Reflecting on his tenure so far, Adeleke acknowledged that many people initially doubted his capabilities.
“Two years with a lot of challenges. I was cheated in 2018. Everyone knew that I won that election but that one is over now. I went back to prepare more, and I believe in God. Then God said that my time will come, and it was a street victory. It is not easy to defeat an incumbent in Africa, especially in Nigeria here. But I did; there’s nothing they could do about it. I see that as God telling me that it’s my time.”
Adeleke noted that before assuming office, critics dismissed him as merely a “dancing senator” who would spend his tenure celebrating instead of governing. However, he revealed that he had a well-thought-out plan even before taking office.
“I laid out my blueprints silently, and immediately I was sworn in, I began with action. It was challenging at first. I first went around. I’m not a governor that sits around the office in the air conditioner. I put on my sneakers, my cap, and go around and inspect projects so that the contractors will know that I mean business.”
The governor also disclosed the state of affairs when he assumed office, lamenting that the Government House had been vandalized.
“There were a lot of abandoned projects, including the Government House. The Government House was looted. They were so upset that I defeated them, so they looted the Government House, which when we came in, we did the video and showed the whole world. This is democracy. If Osun people decide that they don’t want you when you have done your own, then bow out and appreciate the opportunity they have given you. They looted the whole place; it took me one year to move into the Government House.”
Despite the extensive looting, Adeleke chose not to focus on recovering stolen items or probing past administrations.
“No, because if you try to do that, you will be wasting your time. I did not even probe anybody, and the money they owed was crazy. I showed it to everyone. I even called all the obas (kings) that this is what I met on the ground. Osun State, with our little resources, owed close to N60 billion, apart from others that we discovered later. Why do I need to waste my time to start probing? So I just forgot about that and went straight to work.”
Adeleke highlighted his administration’s focus on infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, to support local farmers and boost economic activity.
“Infrastructure is very important. I’m not doing the ones that people will see. I go inside villages and everything because our people are mostly farmers. And if they don’t have good roads, how are they going to bring their goods to town? So that’s the first agenda. I made sure that I fit in the infrastructure, the roads, and even bridges that I’m doing at the same time.”
He detailed his ambitious N100 billion infrastructure plan, which many initially doubted, but he has successfully executed within two years.
“If you come to Osogbo now, to other cities, I’ve done about 150 kilometres. As I’m doing it, I’m putting lights on the streetlight. When you come at night, it’s so beautiful. Everywhere you go, at least you have road construction. Every little town, we have at least 1.5 kilometres of roads, so you cannot say I did not touch anywhere.”
Despite inheriting a significant debt burden, Adeleke assured that his administration has been gradually paying it off.
“I am paying it, and it is reducing.”
On how his government is generating funds, Adeleke revealed a shift in fiscal management and revenue collection.
“From taxes, from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). So we improved it, we changed the system. I blocked all the leakages to the extent that no godfather can take advantage of the system. Where it’s not necessary to spend money, I block it. I am a very prudent administrator. I check it myself; that is why I am successful. I didn’t owe anybody any favours because nobody financed my campaign.”
Adeleke also highlighted the revival of Osun’s mining sector, which had been neglected by previous administrations.
“That is part of it. They abandoned it before now, but I have restarted it, and we are now making money from mining. Now we have a licence, a shareholder license. It has never happened before. I’m going to call the Minister of Solid Mineral Resources, Dele Alake, so that I can go and pick up the licence. That’s another way to make money.”
He further emphasized his administration’s financial prudence, revealing that he has refrained from using security votes for personal expenses.
“For security votes, I don’t touch it. I left it there.”
