Why Tinubu Should Review His Policies — Akande

Pastor Akande

Excerpts:

As the 2026 Osun State gubernatorial election is approaching, how prepared is your party Accord?

The duty of every political party is to participate in an election. For us in Accord we are fully ready and our doors is open to every individual who have ambition to contest for any political offices.

In the 2022 gubernatorial election you came fourth. Do you think you stand a better chance in 2026?

If you have been following our election performance you will notice that there have been improvement in our performance year after year. We are trusting in God for a better outing in 2026.

You are the Inter party Advisory Council, IPAC, Chairman in Osun State. What is IPAC doing to ensure a credible election come 2026?

To have a credible election is not the duty of political parties alone but the duty all political stakeholders. But being the primary stakeholder, in IPAC we make sure we foster unity among our members, we organise workshops for political leaders, and we continually sensitive the citizens to shun any form of electoral malpractices with the aim of deepening our democracy.

These are part of what we are doing in our own little capacity as IPAC.

Few days ago, one of your member in IPAC, the state chairman of NNPP, Dr. Tosin Odeyemi criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke’s government for not fulfilling his campaign promises. Is that the position of IPAC?

Capital No. That is NNPP Osun State Chairman personal position about the government of Senator Ademola Adeleke. And I believe that cannot be the position of majority of our members in IPAC.

As IPAC chairman in Osun how will you rate Senator Ademola Adeleke government?

In all honesty, His Excellency Ademola Adeleke government’s performance surpassed our expectations and beat our imagination. Let us take infrastructure as a study case, every nook and cranny of Osun State has become a construction site.

Look at our health sector, tourism, economy to mention a few. Governor Ademola Adeleke has performed wonderfully well.

There are complaints from some quarters that some of Ademola Adeleke’s cabinet members are not competent. Do you hold the same view?

Absolutely no. Many of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s cabinet members that I know are well experienced and highly cerebral individuals you can think of.

Look at the likes of the Commissioner for Special Duty; Dr. B.T. Salam, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry; Reverend Bunmi Jenyo, Commissioner for Political Affairs and Intergovernmental Relation; Dr. Biyi Odunlade. What will you say about the SSG; chief Teslim Igbalaye, the Chief Of Staff to the Governor; Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, these are tested, trusted and well articulated politicians who have served in various capacity of governance before now.

Therefore, Governor Adeleke’s cabinet are made up of the best hands in Osun State. And for those who are complaining, what is their political profile? Some of them have not even held a councillorship post before for them to know what governance is all about.

What can you say about Governor Ademola Adeleke second term bid? Do you think it will be an easy ride for Mr. Governor?

Politics is very dynamic and election is sometimes difficult to predict. But looking at his popularity among Osun voters, his performance in just two years and incumbent factor all these will definitely give Governor Ademola Adeleke advantage in the 2026 gubernatorial election.

If you are called to give Governor Ademola Adeleke just one advice, what will it be?

I will just tell him keep the good work going and nothing more.

Just of recent we see some political gladiators from opposition partied crossing to the ruling APC. Do you think this is good for our democracy ?

Our Constitution gives room for freedom of association but not withstanding the recent happening in our political space in Nigeria calls for concern. It will be difficult for democracy to thrive without a good opposition and check and balance.

If you have opportunity to meet with Mr. President what will be your advice for him?

I will advice him to review some of his policies because some of his policies are counterproductive and are the reasons for the untold hardship we are going through presently in this country