President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to use his re-election victory to promote reconciliation, unity, peace, political stability and the rule of law.
Tinubu made the call on Thursday when Adeleke visited him at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, five days after the governor was declared winner of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
The President congratulated Adeleke on his victory and advised him to expand his political base by reaching out to his opponents and working towards reconciliation.
“First of all, for reconciliation, expand your coast. That is the only way you can give thanks to some people. It is not the way you sing it or celebrate it; it is the way you act it,” Tinubu said.
He urged Adeleke to see his victory as an opportunity to promote unity and stability in the state.
“You are now in a very, very unique position to make things right. Promote unity, peace and stability. Use it. You have started something progressive,” the President said.
Tinubu also praised Adeleke and his campaign team for their mobilisation during the election, saying they had done a “very good job”.
“You saw fear; you screamed. Promote democracy, promote stability, and promote the rule of law. Don’t stigmatise any of your opponents. Let’s look at the trajectory of history,” he added.
The President said Adeleke should recognise that political power ultimately comes from God and the people, rather than attributing electoral success solely to the efforts of political supporters.
“Use me as an example. I got here because God put me here. Where you are today, God put you there not because of the smartness of any of these people. It is just their support, not their smartness. It is the wish of God that prevailed and the wish of the people,” Tinubu said.
The President also defended his administration’s economic policies while criticising proposals to return to fuel subsidy payments.
“I saw one of my opponents now say he will bring back subsidy. I read it, and that is a demonstration of serious ignorance about governance and the economy,” he said.
Tinubu recalled the financial difficulties faced by many states before his administration came into office, saying 27 states were unable to pay workers’ salaries.
“Before I came here, 27 states were unable to pay salaries, not to even talk of the salaries of workers in your state,” he said.
He argued that state governments play a crucial role in the welfare of Nigerians because local governments, infrastructure and a large concentration of the population are within the states.
Tinubu listed road networks, housing, school rehabilitation, hospitals, healthcare services, teacher training and the training of health workers among areas requiring government attention.
He said the outcome of the Osun election reflected the preference of the electorate.
“And the people of Osun State have pronounced their judgment on you: they love you, and they want you to govern,” Tinubu said.
He further urged political actors to accept and celebrate credible elections as an essential part of democratic governance.
“So, going forward, anybody—any Democrat, anybody in the political environment—who cannot celebrate the joy of free and fair elections does not deserve the laughter and happiness of democracy,” he said.
Adeleke thanks Tinubu
Responding, Adeleke thanked Tinubu for what he described as his support for a free and fair electoral process in Osun State.
The governor said the President’s decision to provide a level playing field for political actors contributed to the outcome of the election.
“To see Mr President, we can guess is to say thank you. Other than that, what does it really mean for you to support a level playing field that you have mentioned several times? That’s why I’m here, to thank Mr President, the father of the nation, because he fought for this democracy,” Adeleke said.
He said Tinubu’s decision to allow the election to proceed freely and fairly demonstrated his commitment to democratic governance.
“That is why he allowed free and fair election, and that is the result. That is why I’m here, to say thank you for making sure that democracy lives in Nigeria,” Adeleke added.
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