Osun State Governor and Accord Party governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, says he is not intimidated by the backing of the Federal Government and some state governors for All Progressives Congress candidate Munirudeen Oyebamiji ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Gatekeepers News reports that Adeleke said the support for his major opponent would not determine the outcome of the poll, insisting that he was prepared to face his opponents and whatever political influence they could mobilise.
The governor spoke on Tuesday during an Arise News town hall meeting in Osogbo featuring leading candidates contesting the election.
Reacting to questions about governors campaigning for Oyebamiji, Adeleke described himself as a “bulldozer” and said he was not worried by what he described as federal might.
“I am a bulldozer. I am not afraid of federal might and governors backing the APC candidate. If they like, they should bring all the governors,” he said.
Adeleke said he maintained cordial relationships with some of the governors supporting Oyebamiji, stressing that their presence in Osun would not automatically translate into votes for the APC candidate.
“Those governors are my friends. I am a civilised administrator. They won’t vote; they can only come and dance, and after the election, we will meet,” he said.
The governor also rejected allegations that his administration had militarised the state, saying he did not have the authority to deploy the armed forces.
“I did not militarise Osun. I have no such capacity. I am not the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces,” Adeleke said.
The town hall meeting featured Adeleke, Oyebamiji and Najeem Salaam, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, who presented their positions on key issues ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
