Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has defended his public displays of dancing, saying critics who attack him over the habit are jealous because they cannot dance.
Adeleke spoke during an Arise News Town Hall in Osogbo ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, where he also accused his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, of using federal influence to intimidate his supporters.
The governor described dancing as a personal hobby that has no impact on his ability to govern the state.
“They are jealous of me because they cannot dance in the first place,” Adeleke said, stressing that his family has a strong connection with music and entertainment.
He added that dancing and governance are separate aspects of his life, arguing that he remains serious and prudent when performing his official duties.
“There is time for everything: there’s time to dance, and there’s time to work,” he said.
Adeleke subsequently turned his attention to Oyetola, accusing the former governor of refusing to accept his defeat in the previous governorship election.
He alleged that Oyetola, who is a cousin of President Bola Tinubu, had used his relationship with the President to create problems for members of the opposition in Osun.
According to Adeleke, the former governor was behind the arrest of members of the Accord Party and other political supporters.
He claimed that about 14 of his supporters were still being detained in Abuja, describing the alleged arrests as an attempt to intimidate his political camp ahead of the election.
“If you know that you can win, why are you arresting my people? Why are you using federal might to arrest, to intimidate?” Adeleke asked.
The governor, however, expressed confidence in his chances of securing victory at the polls, saying his administration’s record would speak for itself.
He urged voters to assess his achievements rather than focus on criticism surrounding his personality and public dancing.
Adeleke also disclosed that he had spoken with Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, regarding the peace accord ahead of the election.
He maintained that he enjoys strong support among the people of Osun and urged critics to verify the achievements recorded by his administration.
The allegations against Oyetola and the claims concerning arrests could not be independently established from Adeleke’s remarks at the town hall.
