By Thomas Abidoye
President Bola Tinubu has urged Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to use his renewed mandate to promote reconciliation, unity, peace and stability in the state.
Tinubu spoke on Thursday when Adeleke visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of his appreciation visit following his victory in the August 15 governorship election.
The President urged Adeleke to expand his political reach and use his position to promote democracy, stability and the rule of law, stressing that he should not stigmatise his opponents.
Tinubu commended Adeleke and his campaign team for their mobilisation during the election, describing their efforts as a good job.
He said Adeleke’s position was a result of God’s wish and the wish of the people, urging the governor to use the opportunity to make history by promoting unity, peace and stability.
Tinubu also criticised the idea of returning to fuel subsidy, describing it as a demonstration of ignorance about governance and the economy.
The President recalled that before he assumed office, 27 states were unable to pay workers’ salaries and pensions, adding that Osun was also affected by the inability to pay salaries.
Tinubu, while speaking about the situation in Osun, said he knew a man he had raised who was nicknamed “Half Salary,” referring to the state’s past salary payment situation.
He said the situation affected families whose livelihoods depended on salaries paid by governments at the local and state levels.
Part of the statement reads, “All for the reconciliation, expand your coast. That is the only way you can give thanks to our people. Not the way you sang it or celebrated it.
“It’s 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. And you are in a very, very unique position to make history, promote unity, peace, and stability.
“Use it. It started as a progressive. All you are doing now is progressive instinct.
“And you did a very good mobilization with your team. Very good job. You saw fear.You screamed. Promote democracy. Promotes stability.
“Promotes rule of law. Don’t stigmatize any of your opponent.
“Let’s look at the trajectory of the history. I saw one of my opponents now say he will go back to subsidy. I read it.
“That is demonstration of a serious ignorance on governance and economy. Before I came here, 27 states are unable to pay salaries, not to even talk of pensioners, salary of workers. In your state, I know a man that I raised who is nicknamed half salary.
“They come to the federal, capping hand, unable to do anything. Salary you pay for each families. They were at the local governments.
“They are in the states. We are at the concentration of population. They are in the states.”
