Adeleke: Determination is Key to Surviving Life’s Challenges

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has urged young people to be focused on their goals in life, noting that the deciding factor in achieving one’s dream is being determined.

Adeleke gave the charge at the Adeleke University convocation in Ede on Sunday, narrating the journey he endured to become a governor in Nigeria.

The governor, who described education as a tool to propel people to become whatever they want to become in life, reminded the audience of how he went through challenges to be where he is today.

Holding on July 16, a date that marked one year that he won election as Osun governor, Adeleke pointed out the reasons that made him leave the shores of the country after he was robbed of the election he won on first ballot in 2018 before he reran.

“Today marks a year since my election as the governor of Osun State,” he recalled, saying, “Four years  before then, in 2018, I was rigged out and our mandate was stolen. I was subjected to the worst personality attacks and assaults in Osun political history.

“After a manipulated judicial process, I went on self-exile for two major reasons. Firstly, to escape the evil plot of enemies, who were not satisfied with stealing the people’s mandate. Secondly, to complete my degree programmes especially as my educational qualifications dominated the 2018 campaigns.

“At my age then, I successfully re-enrolled and completed my degree programme. I am proud of that achievement and I thank my family and friends for their total support. I came back to re-contest in 2022 as a brand new graduate. The rest is now history,” he stressed.

Governor Adeleke said the lesson from achieving his goal of becoming governor was that there should never be barrier in educational pursuit, noting that, “What we need is commitment and passion to succeed.”