Why Gov Adeleke Will Win Re-Election Next Year- Ganiyu Olaoluwa
Aare Asejere of Ifon-Osun, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, is a prominent politician in the State of the Living Spring.
Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, who is the Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Affairs, Osun State, and the Chairman of Osun State Commissioners’ Forum, in this interview with Team@orientactualmags.com asserted that Governor Ademola Adeleke will win re-election in the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial election in the state because he enjoys the support of the citizens.
He also said the people of the state will continue to support the state government under Governor Ademola Adeleke’s leadership because they know that he will continue to satisfy their needs and aspirations for a better life.
Read On:
As the Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Affairs, Osun State, in what ways has the current administration in the state improved the lifestyle of the rural dwellers?
Thank you, my ministry, as the name implies focuses on transforming rural communities , everybody is expecting us to improve the lives of the people of their respective communities through the provision of needed amenities and the fact is that both the city and rural dwellers want government to improve social amenities.
The Senator Ademola Adeleke administration has brought succor to the rural dwellers through the provision of amenities, boreholes have been constructed, schools have been renovated , the governor has continued to do things that will improve the lives of people in the rural areas and this will also help to check rural-to-urban migration.
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Enhancing water and sanitation facilities, introducing modern and sustainable farming techniques are expected to be important ways of improving the lives of the rural communities, what have you done in this respect?
When people say, ‘water is life’, it is not an exaggeration? Water is ranked second only to oxygen as an essential for life. As we all know, Governor Ademola Adeleke has made the wellbeing of Osun State citizens a priority , he cares for the people and under his leadership, our ministry is strongly committed to provision of potable and clean water to residents of the state. More than 300 reticulated boreholes have been sunk at different locations in the state.
We are doing the needful to improve the lives of those who live in rural areas.
What were the factors that made you develop interest in politics and what have been your happy moments in politics?
‘All of life’ is politics because politics is about power relationships, we are all political animals. I actually learned rudiments of politics through my father; he was a politician of note and a former Vice Chairman of a political party in Ife South Local Government.
I was not really an ‘accidental politician’ so to speak because ‘politics’ had actually begun to run in my veins since my childhood years.
It was at my father’s living room that I first saw late Chief Obafemi Awolowo..
Have you ever had a time you thought of quitting politics? If yes, why?
Not at all. Though like other life activities, you are bound to have challenges, as politicians, we do have challenges too, but no unpleasant situation has overwhelmed me. I thank God for that.
You have never left the PDP despite not getting party nomination on one occasion, many would have taken a decision to spring a surprise on the party leaders and consider the idea of settling for other parties but you have remained a member of the PDP, why the love for the party?
Yes, I wanted Osun Central PDP senate nomination in 2022, but I could not get it and I did not leave the party.
I love my party and I was strongly committed to Senator Adeleke’s candidacy you know that the Governorship election was ahead of us and it was hundred percent certain that he will win the election, so, that was my major focus.
We thank God that He eventually gave him the expected victory.
Also, life has taught me that you cannot win all the time, if you win, thank God, if you lose, thank God and carry on with your life.
So, I remained in my party and we did everything we could and all our candidates won in the 2023 general election.
You are a homegrown politician and majority of the prominent faces in the current administration in the state are homegrown politicians, do you think this will stand Governor Ademola Adeleke in good stead in the 2026 guber election?
Yes, of course, before Senator Ademola Adeleke won the Senate by-election to complete his late brother’s tenure, he was already a politician of note, he had learned the ropes because he was close to his late brother, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke( of blessed memory). The governor is a home grown politician himself, talking about their family, the generosity of the Adeleke Dynasty has endeared members of the family to the public and people love them. So, it will be smooth sailing for Governor Ademola Adeleke in the 2026 governorship election by the Grace of God.
He has a strong approval rating.
How will you assess the governor’s leadership style and his administration?
When our dear Governor Ademola Adeleke was sworn in and he became the 6th Executive Governor of Osun State on November 27, 2022, he met a state that was badly battered by past misgovernance. However, he was not discouraged by the wreckage he inherited but rather took pragmatic approach to change things for the better.
Despite the misconceptions in some quarters about our governor which is promoted by opposition members who have nothing to say because he has performed beyond expectations, the governor is a good team leader.
He is approachable, he has good leadership skills and I am proud to work with him.
Do you think it will be a wise decision for Osun State people to re-elect Governor Ademola Adeleke in 2026?
In 2026, Governor Ademola Adeleke will win convincingly. Today, in Osun State, there is no one who will say he or she is opposing Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election and people will listen to him or her.
He has delivered dividends of democracy, and he has done creditable well, the opposition cannot field a candidate against the governor and people will listen to them. It will be a landslide victory for the governor in 2026 by the Grace of God.
He has performed remarkably well in uplifting the socioeconomic wellbeing of the people, massive infrastructural development, he has upheld the trust of the electorate, and you will agree with me that it is a testimony for victory.
Your party staged a comeback to power in 2022 ,as a former state PDP chairman, do you think your party is still popular in the state?
Our party, the PDP is still the most popular party in the state.
In the Southwest, it is only in Osun that you can say it is fully PDP-controlled.
We have a governor, 25 out of 26 House Of Assembly seats, all the 9 House of Representatives seats and all the 3 Senate seats. Our party is popular and it will continue to be popular because of our people -oriented programmes and policies.
The leading opposition party, the APC, controls government at the federal level how prepared are you for the upcoming governorship election?
APC controlling government at the Federal level is not a threat to us in Osun State. Our party, the PDP is firmly rooted here. APC was at the Federal level in 2018 when we defeated them at the first ballot before the election was declared inconclusive. Also in 2022, they were in control of the Federal Government we defeated them again and Insha Allah, we are going to repeat the same thing in 2026.
Tell us what the Ministry of Rural Development and Community Affairs has done on your watch, I mean achievements?
To the glory of God, we have achieved a lot in our ministry , let me mention a few among the projects that our ministry has initiated and completed.
The projects include purchase and distribution of 17 Transformers to strategic communities, rehabilitation of schools and Primary Health Care centres in Fadaka, Ile Ife, Inisa in Odo Otin local government, Ede, Sabo in Osogbo, Ile-Ogbo in Ayedire local government, Ayekale in Olorunda Local Government.
We also constructed boreholes and we purchased and distributed operational vehicles to the CDC executives.
What factors do you consider before choosing your outfits?
Nothing so special about my outfits but I ensure that I dress well. As a responsible person that was brought up well, I choose my outfits to set an example for my children
What is your philosophy of life?
Make improvements, not excuses, support others to grow, show the live and let live spirit.
Are there individuals that have affected your life positively that you will remain ever grateful to them?
Yes, my parents.
You are popularly called ‘asejere’ how did you come about this nickname?
‘Asejere’ , that was my nickname during my days as Chairman of Olorunda Local Government. In the past, politicians will work tirelessly to elect someone as Council Chairman but would have nothing to show for it because there was no reward system but when I joined the chairmanship race, people saw in me someone they will benefit from his government, and they began to say in Yoruba ‘asejere lele yio’ and the nickname stuck.
You are the chairman of Osun State Commissioners’ Forum, how has this helped to ensure unity of purpose in the state cabinet?
Being a former state PDP Chairman had somewhat prepared me for such a role, you know it is not easy to lead a group or an association not to talk of coequals, let me use this medium to specially commend all my colleagues for their cooperation and for believing in me.
Can you please tell us about yourself?
I am Olaoluwa Ganiyu Badmus, I had before now served as Executive Assistant which is now called Special Assistant, Special Adviser , Chairman of Olorunda Local government, State PDP Chairman, and acting Chairman of Nigeria Football Association in the state.
Iam currently the Commissioner for Rural Development and community Affairs. I love travelling, lawn tennis and football, Iam a devout Muslim who believes in the efficacy of prayer, I am married, and I have wonderful and promising children. I hold the chieftaincy title of Aare Gbadero Of Ifon Orolu Kingdom-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
