President Bola Tinubu has advised Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to avoid humiliating his opponents following his victory in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
Tinubu gave the advice on Thursday when he received Adeleke at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, stressing that the governor had won an election rather than defeated or conquered his political opponents.
“Don’t stigmatise any of your opponents,” he told the governor. “And the people of Osun State pronounced their judgment on you that they love you, they want you to govern. So you’re going back to govern.”
The President said every democrat should be able to appreciate the outcome of a free and fair election, regardless of which candidate emerges victorious.
“Anybody, any democrat, anybody in the political environment who cannot celebrate the joy of a free and fair election does not deserve the laughter and the happiness of democracy.
“Don’t make a single individual a victim of your campaign. Don’t. Not for you alone; not for the sake of Osun alone, for the generations to come. It’s more important for you to build a network of unity.
“As I said, you did not conquer anybody. You won an election. That is the essence of democracy. I’m so happy that we have this talk,” Tinubu added.
Tinubu encouraged Adeleke to use his victory as an opportunity to strengthen unity and promote peaceful coexistence across Osun State.
He said the governor’s appreciation to the people should go beyond celebrations and be reflected in how he governs.
Tinubu told Adeleke that the best way to thank the people of Osun State was to expand his coast, “not the way you sang it or celebrate it,” but “the way you act it”.
“Use me as an example. And I got here. God put me here. Where you are today, God put you there. Not the smartness of any of these people.
“It’s just their support, not their smartness.
“It’s the wish of God that prevailed and the wish of the people for you,” the President told Adeleke.
According to Tinubu, Adeleke is in a “very unique position to make history” through his leadership of the state.
“Promote unity, peace and stability,” he added.
Tinubu also commended Adeleke for what he described as a “progressive instinct” during his campaign for the Osun governorship election.
“All you’re doing now is progressive instinct. And you did a very good mobilisation with your team — very good job,” he said. “You saw fear, you screamed. Promote democracy, promote stability, promote rule of law.
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