Ademola Adeleke, governor of Nigeria’s Osun State, has urged his fellow countrymen to not allow age stop them from pursuing their educational goals, adding that finishing college was a must for his supporters to back his bid for governor in 2022.
On Sunday, Adeleke delivered the commencement address at Adeleke University in Ede, Osun State, where 537 undergraduates and 75 graduate students received their degrees.
The governor claimed that after losing the 2018 governorship election, he endured the worst personality attacks and assaults, and that he was forced to leave the country to escape the attack and finish his degree programme. This came after his elder brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke, insisted that the governor either finish his degree or give up his 2022 governorship ambitions.
He claimed, “Dr. Tajudeen Adeleke gave me the push I needed to get started. He brought me in for a meeting right before I went into exile. He advised me to consider the treatment I’ve received at the hands of others who have claimed I lack formal education. To further my education, he suggested I move to the United States.
“He told me that the only thing I could do for the people of Osun if I was ready to be governor was to obtain an education, finish my degree, and forget my governorship aspirations if I didn’t.
“At that time in my life, I was able to re-enroll and finish my degree program. I appreciate everyone’s unwavering encouragement and am pleased with my success. In 2022, after finishing college for the first time, I decided to try again. As for what happened after that, it’s ancient history at this point.
Where does this lead us? No one should ever stop learning because of their age. Dedication and enthusiasm are the keys to success.
The university’s namesake, Dr. Deji Adeleke, believed that if the people of Nigeria made up their minds to improve their country, they could.
Dr. Adeleke, bemoaning the negative attitude of many Nigerians toward nation-building, which he claims is harming the country, noted that about 120 corps members who worked as INEC ad hoc staff during the 2022 Osun governorship election mysteriously vanished on election day to frustrate the exercise, and did not show up at their respective polling units until the leadership of the scheme threatened them.
When asked for more details about the bad followers, Adeleke revealed that someone had stolen parts from the turbine he had purchased for the 1250MW power plant he was constructing in Ajebandele, Ondo State, but had not yet installed.
He advised Nigerians who want a good country to stop blaming those in power and do what they can to achieve it themselves.
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