Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has delivered a characteristically defiant response to critics who have questioned his frequent public displays of dancing, declaring that members of the All Progressives Congress are simply jealous because they cannot move like him. Speaking at the Arise Town Hall for Osun governorship candidates in Osogbo on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the governor dismissed suggestions that his dancing hobby had distracted him from governance, insisting that he remains a serious and prudent leader who knows when to work and when to enjoy himself. “We are jolly good fellows and I will tell you, nobody can stop me from dancing. As I'm dancing, I'm working,” Adeleke declared, adding that dancing and music were part of his family's culture and personality.
The governor's remarks came just days before the August 15 governorship election, where he is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party. The criticism of his dancing had been amplified by Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who used an APC campaign rally in Osun to mock Adeleke, urging voters to reject what he called the "dancing governor". Okpebholo had claimed that Adeleke spent too much time dancing at the expense of governance, alleging that the Osun governor rarely attended meetings of APC governors in Abuja and was disconnected from national developments. But Adeleke brushed off the attacks with characteristic wit, attributing them to envy. “So, they are jealous because they don't know how to dance. If they want, I will teach them how to dance, but that does not stop me from my work,” he said.
The governor maintained that his public displays of dancing should not be interpreted as a lack of seriousness or commitment to governance. “You need to see me when I am working. I can dance with you now, when you come to my office, I'm a very serious and prudent person. There's time for everything, there's time to dance, there's time to work,” Adeleke said. He further stressed that dancing was simply a personal hobby that did not interfere with his responsibilities as governor. “Dancing is a hobby; it does not disturb or affect my work. Go and check it. You will know how much I've done,” he said.
Beyond defending his dancing, Adeleke used the town hall platform to highlight his administration's achievements, urging voters to support his re-election bid based on his record. He listed road construction and rehabilitation projects, the installation of solar-powered streetlights, and the upgrade of over 200 primary healthcare facilities with electricity and clean water as evidence of his commitment to development. He also dismissed allegations that roads constructed under his administration were substandard, insisting that qualified Nigerian engineers were involved in the projects. “It is a sin to say that the roads I constructed are substandard. I used professional engineers. I used Nigerian engineers. I supervised their work,” he said.
Adeleke also took a swipe at his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, claiming that the former governor had not moved past his defeat in the previous election. “Gboyega Oyetola is still suffering from the pain of defeat because he is a cousin to Mr President. He has caused a lot of problems in Osun State,” Adeleke said. The governor expressed confidence in his chances of winning Saturday's election, saying his performance would determine the outcome. “My people love me,” he said. He also dismissed concerns about facing the APC, which has several serving governors supporting its candidate, Munirudeen Oyebamiji. “I am not worried that I am contesting against a party that has 34 governors, I am a bulldozer. If they like they should bring all their governors, they are all my friends. They are not the one to come and vote here, they can only support their party,” he said.
On security, the Accord Party candidate said his background in criminology had equipped him with the knowledge required to address security challenges in the state. He said his administration had recruited about 1,500 Amotekun personnel, adding that the recruits received training from senior security officers. He also alleged that the APC was using federal might to intimidate voters ahead of the election, but expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious. “Dancing is my hobby. In this election, I will be victorious,” Adeleke said.
For Adeleke, the dancing controversy has become a defining feature of his political persona, but one he has consistently turned into a strength rather than a liability. “Those that can't dance are jealous of me. In my family, we have music in our blood. Nobody will stop me from dancing. I dance and work. There is time to dance and there is time to work. I will teach them how to work if they want,” he said. As Osun State heads to the polls on Saturday, the governor's message to his critics is unmistakable: he will not be deterred by their jibes, and he intends to keep dancing all the way to another term.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments