Obasanjo Urges Adeleke to Sustain Good Governance, Keep Osun Development on Track.

Obasanjo Urges Adeleke to Sustain Good Governance, Keep Osun Development on Track.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to sustain his administration’s focus on good governance and continue delivering tangible benefits to residents of the state.

Obasanjo’s remarks form part of his continued public commendation of Adeleke’s administration, particularly its emphasis on infrastructure development, road construction and the completion of previously abandoned public projects.

The former president has previously called on Adeleke to remain focused on improving the lives of Osun residents, stressing that elected leaders have a responsibility to serve the people and strengthen democratic governance. The Osun State Government also reported that Obasanjo, during a meeting with Adeleke at his Abeokuta residence, urged political leaders to remain loyal to the people by ensuring effective governance and delivering democratic dividends.

In November 2024, Obasanjo further praised Adeleke while commissioning the 2.7-kilometre Old Garage Lameco dual carriageway in Osogbo. He encouraged the governor to concentrate on advancing Osun rather than dwelling on the shortcomings of previous administrations. Vanguard reported that Obasanjo described Adeleke as a governor who had demonstrated performance despite earlier criticism.

The former president also highlighted the broader significance of development in Osun, noting that the state is home to Ile Ife, regarded as a major centre of Yoruba history and culture. He therefore argued that progress in Osun carries significance beyond the state, particularly for the wider Yoruba community.

Adeleke’s administration has repeatedly presented infrastructure as a central component of its governance agenda. At the 2024 commissioning, the governor said his government had constructed more than 120 kilometres of roads and was pursuing additional projects, including flyovers and road dualisation works. These claims were reported by Vanguard and other Nigerian media outlets.

Obasanjo had also previously advised Adeleke to combine his public personality with effective governance. In May 2024, during the inauguration of a VIP lodge at the Osun Government House in Osogbo, he urged the governor to remain committed to honesty, integrity and hard work while continuing his administration’s development programmes.

The former president’s latest message underscores a broader expectation facing state governments across Nigeria: that political leadership should translate electoral mandates into measurable improvements in infrastructure, public services, economic opportunities and citizens’ welfare.

For Osun, sustaining development will require not only completing ongoing projects but also ensuring transparency, accountability and equitable distribution of government resources. While commendations from prominent national figures can provide political encouragement, the lasting measure of governance remains its impact on the everyday lives of citizens.