Governor Ademola Adeleke has defended his penchant for dancing, saying his hobby does not interfere with his responsibilities as governor of Osun State as he seeks a second term in office.
Adeleke announced this on Tuesday during an Arise TV-organized town hall meeting for candidates running for governor of Osun State on August 15.
The governor, who characterized himself as a “prudent worker,” stated that dancing was a part of his personality and a pleasure he enjoyed and that despite his public displays of dancing, he had completed projects in a variety of areas.
“I dance because in my family, we are jolly good fellows. As I am dancing, I am working. There is time for everything, there is time to dance, and there is time to work. Dancing does not stop me from working. I have delivered across all sectors,” Adeleke said.
This comes after Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo insulted him during an APC campaign event in Osun State, urging people to reject what he called the “dancing governor.”
Adeleke stated that individuals who were outraged by his dancing should learn to dance themselves, emphasizing that the activity had no effect on his performance at work.
“If they can’t dance, I can teach them how to dance,” he said.
Adeleke added that his people appreciated his personality and maintained that dancing remained only a hobby.
“Dancing is a hobby. That does not affect my work. My people love me,” he said.
Adeleke defended his administration’s record, saying his government had built and restored highways throughout the state and that solar-powered lamps had been erected on parts of them.
“As I’m speaking to you, I did not only build roads across Osun; I installed them with solar lights. This we did to provide security and enhance economic development,” he said.
He also mentioned that his administration had upgraded and rehabilitated more than 200 primary healthcare facilities, which he said were equipped with electricity and clean water.
“As of today, we have upgraded and rehabilitated over 200 primary healthcare facilities to global standards, equipped with electricity and clean water,” Adeleke said.
He also stated that qualified engineers had certified the projects carried out by his administration as meeting international standards.
Adeleke is running for re-election on the Accord Party platform after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, which he represented when he won the governorship in 2022.
In Saturday’s election, he will compete against All Progressives Congress candidate Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji and African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam, among others.
