It would have been well presented, if Governor Ademola Adeleke started his new year,2025, address by acknowledging and appreciating President Tinubu for being the main reason for any achievement whatsoever he had ascribed to himself.
The Yoruba adage says, Igi su mo igi, lo mu obo n yo.
Which is translated to mean that It is the closeness of trees to each other that makes the monkey show it’s jumping skills….
So, it is only because of the boldness of President Tinubu to remove the oil subsidy, that made the Federation Allocations to the Sub Nationals (State Governments) almost doubled, and also brought sustainability to the states.
This is the only reason why Governor Adeleke could seem to boast to have rehabilitated over 150 kilometers of roads, upgraded over 100 schools, refurbished 200 health centers, and provided over 332 local water facilities. He also claimed to have executed over 300 local community projects, which we would also need him to provide the details of the said projects and as it relates to communities.
He mentioned paying pensions, paying owed passed salaries, and also claimed to have purchased a new set of tractors, which he uses for showmanship, rather than have them deployed to farms within all 30 Local Government Area, for farmer to benefit. These, amongst other half-truth and selfish things he claimed to have done.
Since he claimed not to have borrowed money from anywhere, he should let us know the source of his spendings based on his 2024 Budget Performance. I am certain that the budget deficit, would reveal that he did not only expended the FAAC Allocation for Osun State Government, but he had also short changed the 30 Local Government Areas in Osun State (whose Allocations had also almost doubled), by unlawfully expending their funds for projects that is not beneficial to the Local Government Areas. As I am very sure that none of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s personal funds nor that of his Dynasty, was used to fund the 2024 Budget deficits.
Furthermore, this is also the reason why Governor Adeleke could forecast to increase his 2025 Budget by about 56%, from the ₦273,908,997 of 2024 Approved Budget to a 2025 Approved Budget of ₦427,746,925.170.00. There is no gainsay that he has so much unrevealed confidence in the policies of President Tinubu.
Let us give praise to whom praise is due!!! Even Governor Adeleke knows within him for a fact that he could only have done whatever he claims to be doing now, because of President Tinubu’s bold, well planned, and resilient decisions.
The effectiveness in the payment of the increased amount of minimum wages to workers , which in Governor Ademola Adeleke’s address, reflected in him claiming the glory of the increase, in the presence of a crying excited worker, is not an exemption of the Renewed Hope initiative activated by Mr President. Hence, if Governor Adeleke has decided to pay over N70,000 to workers, all thanks should definitely go to President Tinubu. And not him claiming what he never initiated.
President Tinubu’s love for the grassroot, had made him confront most of the governors, who had not seen it as wickedness to choke the grassroot, through seizing their LG FAAC Allocations. Which had for a long time, had hindered the Local Governments from developing, and also the grassroots from feeling the dividence of democracy.
He championed the fight for Autonomy of Local Governments, and through the legitimate instrument of the Supreme Court, he won. This eventually gave the pathway to freedom for all Local Governments from the bondage of the State Governments.
It is said that pride comes before a fall. It is a wise man who acknowledges the help and support that it receives from another. But a proud man would always get caught up in his self-centred pride, which definitely then leads to his fall.
The attributes of a wise man is evident in the humility and boldness of the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, who though is a member of PDP (opposition party) did not find it debasing to have openly acknowledged the support he had Recieved from the benefits President Tinubu policies, which helped his performance in the governance of Delta State.
This act by the Delta State Governor, is what Governor Ademola Adeleke has with his self-centred pride, failed to emulate.
His continuous display of pride, which is enveloped in his selfishness and greed, is a pointer to his expected defeat, come 2026.
Remember that Pride comes before a Fall….
Olatunbosun Akinlade is the Initiator of Ominira Osun Movement, he writes from Ifon-Osun, Orolu local government area of Osun State.
