I was only dancing as my late brother’s goodwill won the poll- Senator Adeleke

The senator representing Osun West at the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday disclosed that he was only dancing during his campaign as he was aware that his late brother’s goodwill was enough to win the senatorial by-election in the state.

The younger Adeleke had replaced his late brother, Senator Isiaka, Adeleke (a.k.a. Serubawon) who died in April.

Ademola had defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) few days to the election and still won the poll with wide margin.

But speaking at the State House, Abuja during a meeting with the presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, Senator Adeleke said he inherited the goodwill of his late brother in Osun state, saying that he was well received at the Senate.

He said, “I was having fun during the campaign and enjoying my dance because my late brother had done 70 per cent of the job with his historical goodwill right from when he became an executive governor in 1991. I was always with him. I want to follow his footsteps and may God help me.”

According to him, he has already put a framework in place to ensure that all his promises to the electorate are fully delivered including the sustaining of good education legacy through scholarships and healthcare for the people, especially the under privileged.

He said, “My brother laid a good foundation for me, but I would have preferred if he was around and had probably decided to retire at a good old age, instead of stepping into his shoes when he passed on.”

He further disclosed thathe would always support a bottom-up style of development in the country that paid close attention to the grassroots by strengthening local government councils.

In his own comment, Adesina said Adeleke’s victory during the election reflected a new era of bridge building in Nigeria’s democracy.

According to him, the development will further strengthen political institutions for future elections.

He said, “The expectations from you will be obviously very high because your late brother, Sen Isiaka Adeleke, was very popular, large-hearted and kind to a lot of people, and I know you are getting ready to fill the big shoes.”