Osun: My Brother Rescued Aregbesola from Defeat, Says Adeleke

• Sheriff submits candidate’s name to INEC

Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Amaka Nkwonta in Abuja

The Osun West senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Nurudeen Demola Adeleke, has said his late elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, was instrumental to Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s second term victory in Osun State.

Adeleke, who spoke with journalists in Abuja shortly after receiving PDP’s flag as the candidate in the forthcoming July 8 senatorial by-election in Osun by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, said Aregbesola was on the verge of losing out before his brother came to his rescue.

“In Osun State, they know me, they know my brother, late Senator Adeleke. When Aregbesola was crying, shaking, he capitalised on the little problem my brother had with the PDP. He came begging, asking my brother to help him. Aregbesola was already a gonna before my brother rescued him. PDP and my brother won the election for him,” he said.

He stated that since he emerged the candidate of the PDP, the state has been agog with political activities, expressing the optimism that he would emerge victorious in the election.
According to him, most of the other parties, including the Labour Party (LP), Accord Party, even some sections of the APC have joined in the campaign train to ensure that he wins the by-election.

“Osun is moving, Osun is shaking because we will win. As I speak to you today, the Labour Party, Accord Party even the APC have joined. By the grace of Allah, victory will be ours,” Adeleke said.

The PDP candidate who said he was not new to politics contrary to claims in some quarters, said he followed his late brother since 1992 when he won governorship election in the state.
He wondered where Aregbesola was when his elder brother won the election in 1992 as governor of the state.

“I am not new in the game of politics; I have learnt from the master, I have learnt from the veteran himself (late Adeleke). Aregbesola was already a goner before my brother won the election for him. I have followed my brother since 1992. Where was Aregbesola when my brother won the governorship election in 1992?”

On the allegation that he had no APC membership card as claimed by the state Publicity Secretary, the senatorial candidate said the party is lying, adding that he and the late Adeleke defected to the APC at the same time and were issued membership cards the same day.

“I and the late senator decamped to the APC at the same time. I was a member but thank God I am at home now (PDP). APC is a party that lies,” he said
Adeleke was accompanied to the PDP headquarters by the Osun State PDP Chairman and the Ondo State Chairman Hon Biyi Poroye.

In his remarks, Sheriff assured the candidate that the party leadership would join him in flagging off his campaign.

He said the party has already sent Adeleke’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the senatorial candidate.

He also said the leadership of party is currently articulating its position on current issues in the country and that he will be addressing the media on that next week.