ZLP Candidate Rates Adeleke’s Administration ‘Zero,’ Unveils Security, Education, Healthcare Agenda

The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) governorship candidate for the August 15 Osun State governorship election, Mr. John Adesuyi, has scored Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration “zero,” contending that no government can be regarded as successful if it fails to guarantee the safety of lives and property.

Adesuyi made the remarks while featuring on Issues That Matter, a current affairs programme on City Mirror TV, where he argued that the foremost constitutional responsibility of any government is to ensure the security of its citizens.

According to him, persistent security challenges in Osun State over the past 12 years have diminished whatever accomplishments successive administrations may claim.

“I will rate Adeleke zero. He hasn’t done anything. Everything is zero. Any governor that fails to protect the lives of the citizens is a failure, no matter what he has done. Adeleke has failed to protect the lives of Osun people, which makes him a failure,” he said.

The ZLP standard-bearer said security would be the cornerstone of his administration if elected, pledging to establish a transparent, accountable and people-centred government.

“If I become governor, we are going to run a transparent and accountable government. We are going to run a government of the people, returning power to the people. The basic and number one priority, backed by the Constitution of Nigeria, is the safety of lives and property,” he stated.

Adesuyi said his administration would leverage technology to strengthen security through the deployment of surveillance systems and other digital tools across the state, with a focus on preventing crime rather than merely responding to it.

“There won’t be any space for criminal elements. Technology has made things easier. We will make sure the four corners of Osun State are under surveillance. Once you put these measures in place, it becomes easier to isolate crime because offenders know they are being watched before they commit any offence. These technologies are not expensive to implement,” he said.

He also criticised what he described as weak enforcement of traffic regulations, arguing that authorities should prioritise preventive measures, including adequate road signs and public awareness, instead of focusing solely on apprehending traffic offenders.

“The traffic officer hides, waiting for someone to violate a rule, even when there is no sign indicating the restriction. We need preventive measures because many people become victims simply because they are not aware,” he added.

On healthcare, Adesuyi promised to make quality medical services more accessible and affordable by equipping hospitals with modern facilities and strengthening oversight within the health sector.

“Health service delivery is expensive in Nigeria. We will make it affordable by providing enough equipment and machinery while ensuring proper supervision to guarantee quality service delivery,” he said.
The governorship hopeful also outlined plans to reform the education sector, expressing concern over the state of public schools in Osun.

According to him, his administration would establish both physical and digital libraries, introduce simulation technology to enhance practical learning and recruit competent teachers to address shortages across public schools.

“Today, there is hardly any school in Osun where you will find a functional physical library. We will establish both physical and digital libraries. Practical lessons can also be enhanced through simulation technology. More than 100 schools in Osun do not have competent teachers, and we are going to address that,” he said.

In the area of agriculture, Adesuyi pledged to reposition the sector as a key driver of economic growth, promising to create at least 10,000 jobs by promoting commercial agriculture and increasing local food production.

“We are going to run agriculture as a business. We will produce what we consume here in Osun and create at least 10,000 jobs through the sector,” he stated.

He further stressed that governance should reflect the aspirations of the people, saying his administration would prioritise projects based on public needs rather than political considerations.

“We will first ask the people what they need before implementing projects. Previous administrations were not people-oriented, and that is why many of their projects failed to meet the expectations of the people. They gave people what they did not ask for,” he said.

Adesuyi also appealed for a peaceful governorship election, urging security agencies, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, parents and other stakeholders to work together to ensure a credible, peaceful and violence-free electoral process.

He added that effective governance requires leaders to embrace good ideas irrespective of political affiliation.

“The best way to govern is to gather knowledge from different political parties, even if they do not win elections. Every party has good ideas. Bring them together in peace and use them for the benefit of the people,” he said.