Adeleke renews call on Oyetola, allies to join Tinubu campaign Council
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has renewed his appeal to former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and his political associates to join the state’s Presidential Campaign Council and work together for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, made the appeal on Monday while appearing on Frank Talk, a current affairs programme on Rave FM, where he addressed the controversy surrounding the inauguration of the Osun State chapter of the Presidential Campaign Council.
Rasheed explained that the council was constituted at the national level and that Adeleke, as the Osun coordinator, proceeded with its inauguration following a directive from Abuja.
He said the governor had personally reached out to several political leaders, including Oyetola, the former APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru, former governor Chief Bisi Akande, former APC National Secretary Otunba Iyiola Omisore and Southwest Coordinator Professor Olusola Adeyeye.
According to him, some of the leaders responded to the governor’s calls and mobilised their supporters for the inauguration. He added that Akande, Adeyeye and other APC leaders attended the event.
On concerns about the manner in which some political leaders were invited, Rasheed said the urgency of the exercise prompted the governor to contact them directly.
He stressed, however, that Adeleke was willing to put the disagreement behind him and had extended another invitation to Oyetola and his associates to participate in the council’s activities.
“The news is that Mr Governor is now again calling on former Governor Oyetola and all their people to join the council because their names were prominently displayed. He is extending that invitation again formally,” Rasheed said.
He added that the governor was reopening channels of communication to accommodate all interested stakeholders, noting that the council would soon be divided into subcommittees to coordinate various aspects of the campaign.
Rasheed said Adeleke’s intention was to bring political leaders in the state together to secure victory for Tinubu, rather than advance any personal or partisan interest.
He also referred to the family relationship between Tinubu and Oyetola, arguing that those seeking the President’s re-election should be willing to work together despite their political differences.
“Let us come together within the council to mobilise for Mr President. All these issues of ‘I was invited, I was not invited’, people should grow beyond it,” he said.
The governor’s spokesperson further disclosed that Adeleke was seeking to secure 1.5 million votes for Tinubu in Osun State, describing the target as part of the administration’s commitment to the President’s re-election.
A caller identified as Bimbo also contributed to the discussion, suggesting that Oyetola and Oyebamiji should work with Adeleke if they were genuinely committed to Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Rasheed reiterated the governor’s appeal for cooperation among political stakeholders named on the campaign council, saying preparations were underway to establish its committees and commence subsequent campaign activities.