Adeleke’s absence stirs health concerns among opposition

…He will arrive Nigeria this week — Osun PDP Chair

Following the continued absence of Governor Ademola Adeleke from Osun State for over 2 weeks, the main opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has questioned the health status of the Governor.

Recall that Governor Adeleke embarked on a vacation to Europe and Asia according to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed earlier in November.

Reacting however to the Governor’s absence from the state and his one year anniversary in office, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State chapter has tasked the handlers of the Governor Ademola Adeleke to come out clean on the true situation and location of the governor.

The party chairman, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, in Osogbo on Monday, said people of the state deserve the inalienable right to know the whereabouts and condition of their governor whose actions and inactions have become matters of interest as a public officer.

Lawal said, “It would be recalled that Governor Adeleke absconded from the country a day before the Kogi State governorship election of which he was appointed its chairman by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, where his party’s candidate, Dino Melaye, lost the election by coming third.

“Nothing was heard about the movement or whereabouts of Adeleke after two weeks that he had left the state which gave room to speculations in various quarters that he, along others, were attending the naming ceremony of his nephew’s (Davido) twins in Atlanta, the United States of America while the others were of the belief that the governor has been on a medical pilgrimage abroad.

“It would be recalled that an interview was  arranged for Governor Adeleke in commemoration of the first anniversary of his administration. It was the first time in the history of the state that a sitting governor will be conspicuously physically absent at his first year anniversary. Osun was created 32 years ago.

“The governor in his disjointed radio interview which was suggestive of a suspicion that he was reading from a prepared text spoke on sundry issues in American slang which is considered wholly unwelcome and rude to the type of the society he applied for its governance here in Nigeria.

“Hear Governor Adeleke during the radio interview: The White Papers on the suspended traditional rulers are ready. I am in charge. I don’t want anybody to rush me. The new Sheriff is in town.

“Within a week or so, I will make sure that I am fit because health is wealth. I will brief the people of Osun State when I come back about our achievements in one year.

“I have worked so hard since I assumed office. You can fact check it. I am a human being. I need a break. That’s why I decided (sic) to go on leave in Thailand. I am here in the interest of the Osun State people,” Adeleke said among other things.”

Lawal postulated that the contradicting reasons for the absence of Adeleke from the state for 30 clear days are enough reasons to suspect and conclude that the governor is using falsehood to deceive the people of the state which is an indication that he has something to hide.

In Lawal’s words: “Any mortal can fall sick any time and anywhere. It however, becomes a matter of  public interest when someone who is politically-exposed like Governor Adeleke  is now found wanting in the performance of his constitutional responsibilities.

“A chameeon which walks gently falls sick to talk less of a frog that daily hits its whole body against the ground.  There is no human being who could be engaging in the dancing style of Governor Adeleke at 60 plus that would not have one or two health challenges to contend with.

“It is important for the Adeleke handlers to keep watch over him to ensure that he desists from the cumulative effects of the factors responsible for his current questionable health status.

“The long and short of our sermon is that Osun State is not an individual enterprise that can be run outside the provisions of the constitution. The governor needs to sit up to his constitutional responsibilities of providing qualitative governance for the people of Osun State as anything short of this is balderdash,” Lawal added.

Reacting to the APC, the Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Sunday Bisi, has said Governor Ademola Adeleke will arrive Nigeria before this week runs out after a month’s vacation outside the country.

The party stated that Governor Adeleke went on his first vacation ever since assuming the governor of the state a year ago.

This was contained in a signed on Monday, by SSA/Director of Media, Osun PDP, Oladele Olabamiji said the Governor’s vacation was publicly announced by the Spokesperson to the Governor, who reiterated that the vacation is a working one during which the Governor will rest and also meet partners for the development of Osun State.

He said the Governor is hale and hearty, and he is prepared to further lead the team for the continuous development of Osun State.

“Mr Governor has used the one on vacation to relax, to re-energise, refresh, and recharge as he starts his second year in office. You remember the Governor granted an interview on both radio and newspapers to mark his one year in office, and I can tell you our Governor has no health challenges. It is not a crime to take a vacation after working so hard for 12 good months.

“Even while on vacation, the Governor was coordinating his team from his vacation. He launched the implementation of the Multi-billion Infra Plan project. Everybody can see the ongoing work at Oke-fia-Lameco Junction. Our Governor is even working while on vacation.

“As soon as the Governor arrives this week, Osun should be prepared for more delivery of dividends of democracy and good governance. Osun APC is just chasing shadows. The Adeleke governorship is the best for the state.”