As an observer of Nigerian politics, it is deeply disheartening to watch the continuous erosion of political decorum in Osun State. The recent tragic killing of the political figure Aderogba in Esa-Oke; the hometown of Hon. Wole Oke should have been a moment for quiet reflection, rigorous law enforcement, and institutional calm. Instead, it was turned into a theater of political warfare.
In my view, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s immediate reaction publicly raining curses and targeting the APC Director-General of the campaign council, Hon. Wole Oke, on social media, marks a profound low point in our political governance. It forces us to ask a fundamental question: How did a state that produced some of Nigeria’s most refined political icons arrive at a point where its chief executive reacts with such visceral, unpolished anger?
As the Yoruba elders wisely note: “A man that is not destined to be a king, if you force him there, he will run the stool like a cursed-man.” With the careless and uncultured utterances coming from a sitting governor, there is no doubt that the gods are angry. The only way to restore sanity is to get Adeleke out of the state house and strip him of that honour of Governor.
A governor is supposed to project the majesty and civility of the state. When a tragedy occurs, the immediate recourse should be to allow the police to do their job dispassionately. By jumping to social media to assign guilt and launch verbal assaults, Governor Adeleke dropped the mantle of statecraft and descended directly into the mud of partisan desperation.
What makes this pattern of behaviour particularly jarring is the stark contrast in administrative engagement.
Since the inception of this administration, the governor has consistently avoided robust, unscripted press conferences. He has rarely engaged professional journalists for an hour to debate, defend, or unpack his administration’s long-term policies.
While policy debates are avoided, the governor seemingly has all the time to deploy emotive rhetoric and social media call-outs when his political interests are threatened.
Well, I am not surprised by all these low utterances from him; a low-energy soul cannot do less. Using performance art and public dancing to maintain a populist connection has its place, but it cannot become a permanent shield to mask deep-seated administrative inadequacies.
Leadership is a sacred trust. When a leader appears overwhelmed or out of step with the mandate of the people, citizens have every right to demand better and to reflect on the process that brought them there. The events and statements coming from Abere in recent times have raised serious concerns about focus, energy, and delivery.
The friction between Governor Adeleke and Hon. Wole Oke has naturally invited deep comparisons regarding their academic background, legislative temperament, and approach to public engagement. Hon. Wole Oke represents the traditional administrative sophistication that Osun State prides itself on. Boasting a robust educational pedigree that includes multiple degrees, spanning economics, business administration, and legal studies from prestigious institutions such as the University of Abuja, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of London, Oke has carved out a reputation as a methodical policymaker. Having chaired crucial federal committees like the House Committee on Public Accounts and the Committee on Defense etc, his measured silence and refusal to publicly engage in a war of words during this crisis have elevated his status among critics of the current executive.
On the other hand, Senator Ademola Adeleke’s political identity is built heavily on grass-roots populism, charisma, and his widely recognized penchant for dancing, a trait he has used effectively to cover up his cognitive inadequacies. However, this unconventional style remains a double-edged sword. Critics have long pointed to his academic history, characterized by a controversial accelerated degree programme, as evidence of a deficit in formal governance training. The chief complaint among his detractors is that the governor has continuously used showmanship to shield an underlying lack of administrative depth, pointing out that an executive who rarely engages pressmen in rigorous, hour-long policy debates should not be using social media channels to castigate senior statesmen.
When critics refer to the governor as an “Olodo” (an empty barrel) who relies on showmanship rather than substance, it is hard to argue against that sentiment when his primary governance tool in a security crisis is a public curse rather than a coherent strategy. Hon. Wole Oke had no hand in the tragic death of Aderogba, and trying to politically pin a criminal act on an illustrious son of Esa-Oke inside his own hometown is a staggering display of incivility.
Beyond the personal animosity, the Esa-Oke incident highlights a broader institutional concern regarding how Osun State is currently governed. A democratic executive is traditionally expected to project stability, rely on due process, and govern through clear policy articulation. But when a sitting governor adopts a highly emotional tone in public spaces, it risks undermining the authority of the judiciary and law enforcement. In the case of Aderogba’s death, the primary objective should remain the clinical, non-partisan prosecution of the culprits by security agencies. By turning a criminal tragedy into a tool for political warfare, the administration inadvertently signals that the state’s security apparatus is secondary to political messaging
Osun deserves leadership that is steady, responsive, and accountable to the people at all times. The continuous embarrassment brought upon the image of the state by this administration’s lack of executive expression must come to an end. Without mince of words, if history is the judge, Demola may be remembered as one of the greatest mistakes in Osun State’s political history.
Going forward, political stakeholders and communities must prioritize thorough consultation, due diligence, and alignment with the people’s aspirations before extending support. Elections are not just about power; they are about competence, character, and capacity to deliver. Next time, we will do more thorough spiritual consultation before supporting anyone. What a disgraceful and shameless governor.
As the state inches closer to the critical August 15 polls, the political fallout from the Esa-Oke incident is serving as a rallying cry for the opposition. Figures within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other allied movements are leveraging this controversy to argue that the Adeleke administration represents a historical anomaly in Osun’s proud political lineage.
The campaign to “end the era of disgrace” is rapidly consolidating around alternative leadership, with Oyebamiji’s name being positioned as institutional correctives to the current populist model. The people’s narrative is clear: they seek to portray the governor as an eccentric figure better suited for entertainment than the complex, serious work of socio-economic development.
If Governor Adeleke wishes to spend his days dancing, shouting, and acting without the restraint of public office, the electorate should gladly grant him that wish. On August 15, he should be shown the way out and sent back to a cultural space like the Fela Shrine, where his penchant for theatrical performance can be appreciated without causing further havoc to the governance and reputation of Osun State.
Oni is a Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, where he teaches, Sociology of Education, Philosophy of Education and social pedagogy in Education.
