_SHADES OF AN OPTICS BY OSUN STAKEHOLDERS FORUM(OSF)_
As the Nigerian political landscape continues to evolve with mercurial rapidity, strategic realignments are neither anomalies nor betrayals of principle—they are, infact, calculated imperatives driven by the larger demands of governance, the exigencies of political inclusion, and the noble calling to secure the best for one’s people.
It is within this nuanced context that *Osun Stakeholders Forum(OSF)* deems it not only appropriate but astutely commendable for His Excellency, Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, to consider a graceful and visionary defection from the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) to the All Progressives Congress(APC).
Governor Ademola Adeleke’s prospective pivot towards the All Progressives Congress(APC) is neither whimsical nor opportunistic—it is a deliberate necessity, etched in the crucible of strategic foresight and grounded in the evolving rhythm of national exigencies. The optics, the imperatives and the unrelenting pressure of political pragmatism conspire to make this move not only desirable but paramount to the future of Osun and indeed, to the broader national tableau.
This putative shift, we posit, is not merely a matter of party allegiance but a strategic imperative that could have far-reaching implications for the ramifications of responsive governance and growth catalysed by the re-election of the drivers of these, both at the state and national levels.
Governor Adeleke, whose governance style has exceeded expectations and whose populist touch has endeared him to the hearts of the Osun people, stands today at a consequential intersection of history. His stewardship has been marked by an enviable alchemy of infrastructural rejuvenation, public service reform, and fiscal discipline, all cloaked in a disarming humility and a folksy authenticity that belies his astute political instinct. Yet, in a polity where federal alignment often determines the bandwidth of state-level progress, Governor Adeleke must now transcend sentimental affiliations and embrace a more elevated vision for his people.
The recent defections of the governors of Akwa Ibom and Delta States—erstwhile stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—to the APC offer a luminous template. These are not isolated conversions but rather measured recalibrations of political compasses in anticipation of the 2027 presidential battle, wherein President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid will be a crucible for the soul of the nation. The South South has read the tea leaves; it is time for the South West, particularly Osun, to match that political prescience with commensurate action.
To align with President Tinubu is not merely to fraternise with power; it is to harmonise Osun’s aspirations with the nation’s developmental cadence. Tinubu, a political colossus whose reformist credentials and national appeal continue to define this dispensation, needs the full-throated support of his home region. Governor Adeleke’s defection would, therefore, be a masterstroke—one that reverberates beyond party lines, signifying unity of purpose and a commitment to Osun’s accelerated transformation within the ambit of federal partnership.
Indeed, politics, like the tides, favours those who master its currents. The doctrine of political realism teaches that relevance is rarely a product of idealism but rather of adaptability. To remain within a party that no longer wields federal influence, even as others with less to prove have chosen otherwise, would be to indulge in an illusory fidelity that could fetter the state’s growth. Governor Adeleke’s crossover to the APC would not be a betrayal of ideals but a deepening of his commitment to effective governance through collaborative synergy with Abuja.
Moreover, Adeleke’s crossover would serve a symbolic and strategic purpose: it would galvanize grassroots support, bolster the South West’s cohesion, and communicate an unmistakable message of unity and vision to the Nigerian electorate. The governor’s charisma, cultural rootedness, and administrative dexterity would not only enhance APC’s credentials in Osun but also provide a robust southern anchor for President Tinubu’s renewed mandate come 2027.
In the end, history favours the bold, not the beholden. Governor Adeleke must now leap beyond the predictable comforts of partisan continuity and into the grandeur of statesmanship. The moment beckons, the stakes are noble, and the rewards, boundless. A defection, in this case, is not desertion—it is elevation. It is the thoughtful synchronization of ambition and responsibility. And for Osun State, it could very well be the dawn of a new golden era.
_Engr Yinka Idris_
Director General,
Osun Stakeholders Forum(OSF)
_Ibrahim Akinokun_
Secretary,
Osun Stakeholders Forum(OSF)
