The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Surajudeen Basiru, has visited Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, in Osogbo, explaining that political differences delayed his earlier plan to reciprocate the governor’s visit during his bereavement.
Basiru made the remarks on Sunday when he paid a courtesy visit to Adeleke, with a video of the meeting posted on X by Ayekooto showing the APC national secretary outlining three reasons for his visit.
He first acknowledged Adeleke’s support following the death of his mother, particularly the governor’s presence at the final burial rites and his earlier visit to offer condolences.
Basiru said his return visit was delayed because of the political contest between them, as he had actively campaigned against Adeleke during the recent governorship election.
“You are the chief executive officer, and you still find time. And not only that you came to my personal house to extend your condolences to me, you also frontally attended. I cannot, because of politics, gloss over that act of charity.
“I don’t want people to misinterpret my gesture, and ordinarily I ought to have visited you during that period. But politics can be very toxic. People will say, ‘Ah, we are doing election, oh, we are in the field.’ And I was campaigning vigorously against you, sir.
“I campaigned vigorously against you at that election. Fortunately, God gives power.”
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Basiru also used the meeting to congratulate Adeleke on securing re-election, despite acknowledging that he had supported the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, during the contest.
“Secondly, I must also come as a democrat to congratulate you on your recent victory. And I must say that I did not want you to win.
“I wanted Oyebamiji to win that election, my candidate that I worked for in that election. But as it were, Allah (God) alone can give power to whoever He wants.
“And of course, as a student of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the democrat, I must also at every point in time recognise that in a democratic contest, one must win, and the struggle continues,” the ruling party scribe said.
The APC national secretary identified the governor’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election as the third reason for his visit.
Basiru said he had followed reports in both the traditional and social media suggesting that Adeleke might withdraw his earlier support for Tinubu after winning the governorship election.
He, however, praised the governor for maintaining his position.
He said he “read both news media and social media, some people expected you (Adeleke) that having won the election, would renege on earlier promise to endorse Tinubu,” but the governor had “stood firm.”