Human rights lawyer and commentator, Richard Akinnola, has criticised Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid barely 48 hours after winning the state governorship election.
Akinnola said the governor should prioritise investigating killings and attacks recorded before and during the election rather than immediately focusing on national politics.
In a statement issued on Monday, Akinnola said Adeleke was “putting the cart before the horse” by declaring support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
“I have no problem with you supporting Tinubu’s election in January but I’m just curious. Is that what you should be saying now,” Akinnola asked.
He referenced incidents reported before and during the election, including what he described as “about 30 people killed in pre-election violence,” the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government, the alleged harassment and confinement of the Speaker on election day, and claims that a senator directed supporters to target members of Adeleke’s party.
Akinnola also reminded Adeleke that he had earlier “shouted yourself hoarse in exasperation, calling on the president and the IGP over what you considered as assault on your supporters.”
He questioned the governor’s decision to praise those he had previously accused of attempting to undermine his re-election.
“The same people you accused of trying to undermine your re-election are the same people you are praising for allegedly ensuring a supposedly free and fair election. Approbating and reprobating at the same time, playing Hyde and Jekyll,” he said.
Using a Yoruba proverb, Akinnola added: “Enu ti won so pe ade o gun, ni won tun so pe ade gun,” meaning the same mouth that said the crown does not fit is now saying it fits.
He subsequently questioned whether Adeleke’s earlier concerns over attacks on his supporters were “a false flag you raised a few days to the election.”
According to Akinnola, security and accountability should be the immediate priorities of the Adeleke administration.
“I had thought the first thing you should do was to ask the police to thoroughly investigate these killings and for you to commiserate with the families of these victims. That should be your priority and not your allegiance to the president’s re-election which is still five months away,” he stated.
Akinnola acknowledged that supporting Tinubu “is within your prerogative” but maintained that it “shouldn’t be your priority barely 48 hours after your hard-fought victory, in an election blood was shed and your supporters did everything possible to protect your votes.”
He concluded his criticism with a brief message to the governor: “Mr Governor, I’m disappointed.”
Akinnola’s comments came after Adeleke, who secured re-election in the Osun governorship poll, publicly endorsed President Tinubu for another term in 2027.
