APC Scribe, Basiru visits Adeleke, Backs Tinubu For 2027

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the August 15 governorship election, despite the defeat suffered by his party’s candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji.

Basiru spoke on Sunday when he visited Governor Adeleke at the Government House, Osogbo, saying the visit was also aimed at thanking the governor for his support and presence during the burial of his late mother.

The APC national secretary said he had decided to return the governor’s gesture after Adeleke visited his family during the period of bereavement and attended his mother’s burial ceremony.

According to him, the governor’s gesture demonstrated the spirit of an Omoluabi, stressing that political differences should not destroy relationships among the people of the state.

“My visit here is threefold. I want to thank His Excellency and also to return the visit he made to my house during the time I lost my mother,” Basiru said.

“You know that it was well reported that he came to my house to visit me and my family. He also graciously attended the burial ceremonies for my mother. He even wore a complete agbada of the same attire that I wore. So I came to thank him as is expected of an Omoluabi.”

Basiru said his inability to return the visit earlier was due to the governorship election campaign, during which he worked vigorously for the APC candidate, Oyebamiji.

He, however, said the election was now over, stressing that all political actors must move beyond the contest and work together for the development of Osun State.

The APC national secretary also disclosed that the governor had reaffirmed his commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu, saying Adeleke would actively participate in the campaign for the President ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“I also came to congratulate him for his victory in the election, even though he defeated our candidate and our party in the election,” he said.

“Thirdly, also to thank him for endorsing my leader and our presidential candidate. To also say that we are ready to work together to ensure that we deliver Osun massively for President Bola Tinubu.”

Basiru expressed optimism that the collaboration between political forces in the state could produce a massive electoral support base for Tinubu.

He said the APC would work towards integrating the Accord Party structure into the Tinubu campaign, adding that the target should be about 1.5 million votes for the President in Osun.

“You can see from the last contest, my party performed creditably well in that election, scoring 46 per cent of the votes. In between the Accord and the APC, we have close to one million votes and with the presidential election, I think we should be looking to working together about 1.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu,” Basiru said.

He urged APC members in Osun to close ranks and work collectively for the success of the President, stressing that the outcome of the governorship election should not be allowed to create permanent divisions among the people.

Basiru also urged political actors and residents to sustain the prevailing peace in the state following the post-election violence recorded in some areas.

“Election has come and gone. All of us belong to this place. We must work to ensure that we have meaningful infrastructure and a good living for the people of Osun,” he said.

The APC national secretary further called on members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to resolve their leadership differences peacefully.

“One of the things that Mr. President said when he visited was that when you are a democrat, you must also be able to celebrate victory and also endure when you have lost an election,” Basiru added.