Osun: Governor Adeleke Speaks On Working With APC,Oyetola

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has revealed his ‘heart desire’ to work with his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, despite their political differences.

CityNews Nigeria recalls that the Appeal Court in Abuja on Friday, March 2023, ruled that Senator Adeleke did not forge his certificate to contest in the state gubernatorial election.

The appellate court dismissed the tribunal’s ruling on certificate forgery earlier, stating that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Oyetola failed to prove its over-voting case against Adeleke.

It could be recalled that the former governor of the state and candidate of the APC had challenged Adeleke’s victory in the July 16, 2022, governorship election before the election petition tribunal in Osun state.

However, following his reinstatement, Governor Adeleke on Monday (today), said the immediate past governor of the state has not congratulated him after his victory at the Appeal Court.

Adeleke, who he was open to working with the former governor, said he had yet to hear from Oyetola.

CityNews understands that Adeleke said this when he was featured on Arise TV Morning Show on Monday.

He said: “Immediately after the news of the Appeal Court (judgement), I tried to reach out, I called him – the former Governor Oyetola – to let us forge ahead to move Osun forward, but up till now, he has not called me to congratulate me and I’m still hoping that he will do that because we don’t have any other state than Osun State here. So, I’m ready, my hands are open, let’s come together and move Osun State forward.”

When asked what he would like to say to Oyetola, Adeleke made a U-turn on reaching out to Oyetola, saying he never called the former governor.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said: “Well let me correct it, I did not say I put a call to him, what I said is I’m still expecting him to call me so that he can congratulate me, and if he wants to do otherwise and go ahead to the Supreme Court, he has the right to do that.”

Adeleke, however, noted that if Oyetola insisted on heading to the court, he was not afraid of the Supreme Court, adding that his people and God are on his side.