By Opeyemi Adelakun
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has dismissed criticism of his penchant for dancing, insisting that his public displays have neither distracted him from governance nor prevented his administration from delivering projects across the state.
Adeleke made the declaration on Tuesday during a town hall meeting organised by Arise TV for candidates contesting the August 15 Osun governorship election.
The governor, who described himself as a “prudent worker”, said dancing was simply part of his personality and a hobby he enjoyed, arguing that he had always separated recreation from his official responsibilities.
“I dance because in my family, we are jolly good fellows. As I am dancing, I am working. There is time for everything, there is time to dance, and there is time to work. Dancing does not stop me from working. I have delivered across all sectors,” Adeleke said.
His comments came amid renewed attacks over his dancing from political opponents, particularly Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who recently mocked him at an All Progressives Congress campaign rally in Osun and urged voters to reject what he described as the “dancing governor”.
Adeleke, however, appeared unfazed by the criticism, challenging those who object to his dancing to learn the steps instead.
“If they can’t dance, I can teach them how to dance,” he said.
The governor maintained that his popularity among residents was not based on his personality alone but on what he described as tangible achievements recorded by his administration.
“Dancing is a hobby. That does not affect my work. My people love me,” he said.
Turning to his administration’s record, Adeleke highlighted road construction and rehabilitation as some of the projects he said had transformed communities across the state.
He said his government had not only constructed and rehabilitated roads but had also installed solar-powered streetlights along some of the routes.
“As I’m speaking to you, I did not only build roads across Osun, I installed them with solar lights. This we did to provide security and enhance economic development,” the governor said.
Adeleke also cited his administration’s interventions in the health sector, claiming that more than 200 primary healthcare facilities across the state had been upgraded and rehabilitated.
“As of today, we have upgraded and rehabilitated over 200 primary healthcare facilities to global standards, equipped with electricity and clean water,” he said.
According to the governor, qualified engineers had inspected and certified the projects executed by his administration as meeting international standards.
With the election only days away, Adeleke is seeking another term amid a competitive contest involving candidates from several political parties.
The governor is contesting on the platform of the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, under which he won the 2022 governorship election.
He faces the APC candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, the African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, and other contenders in Saturday’s poll.
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