- Adeleke’s spokesperson said the governor’s Tinubu endorsement predates his election victory.
- Rasheed said the decision was aimed at attracting federal projects to Osun.
- He urged residents not to view Adeleke’s support for Tinubu as betrayal.
Special Adviser and Spokesperson to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, has urged residents of the state not to feel disappointed by the governor’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Rasheed said Adeleke’s decision to support Tinubu was not a recent development, arguing that the endorsement was made before the governor’s victory in the Osun governorship election and therefore should not be seen as a betrayal of the people.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise News on Tuesday, Rasheed was responding to questions about whether Osun residents should feel disappointed after Adeleke endorsed Tinubu’s re-election shortly after his victory in the poll.
He said, “When Mr Governor was within the PDP, the endorsement was announced. When he crossed over to Accord, the endorsement was announced. So the endorsement predates this election victory.”
Rasheed said Adeleke had also explained the reasons behind his decision to support Tinubu, particularly the need to attract more federal development projects to Osun State and secure the completion of ongoing federal projects across the state.
“So the whole world, the political space is aware that Mr. Governor has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the governor explained the reasons why he’s endorsing. He talks about developmental focus. The need to attract federal presence. The need to get most of the roads in Osun’s federal project done, and the need to support a man that is on the seat that can do this for us,” he said.
The governor’s spokesperson pointed to ongoing federal road projects in Osun as evidence of the benefits he said the state could derive from Adeleke’s relationship with the Federal Government, noting that work had commenced on some of the projects.
“And as a consequence of that endorsement, Ilesa-Ibadan Road is being worked on. We have Osogbo-Ibadan Road being awarded; the work has started. We have Gbongan to Osogbo already awarded, and so on,” he said.
Rasheed maintained that Adeleke’s decision to support Tinubu was driven by what he described as the interests of Osun residents rather than political opportunism, adding that the endorsement should be viewed within the context of the governor’s efforts to attract development to the state.
“So, the governor is looking at backing the man on the seat for several reasons, and you know this predates our election victory. So, I will say people should not feel betrayed. Mr. Governor is only doing the right thing that is in the best interest of Osun people,” he said.
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