The governor of Osun State, Mr Ademola Adeleke, has revealed how he was given the condition of either completing his university education or giving up his 2022 governorship ambition.
Speaking at the combined 9th undergraduate and 5th postgraduate convocation ceremonies of the Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, yesterday, the governor said after he lost the 2018 governorship election he was subjected to the worst personality attacks and assaults.
He said he had to leave for the United States to complete his degree programme after his elder brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke insisted he must complete his education, or forgo his 2022 governorship ambition.
“Dr Tajudeen Adeleke encouraged me to move ahead. Before I went on exile, he called me to a meeting where we discussed. He told that I should look at what I have been subjected to by those saying I was not educated. He advised that I should go to America for studies.
“He said the only thing I can do for Osun people, if I am ready to be governor, I must get educated, I must complete my education; that without completing it, I should forget my governorship ambition,” he said.
He said age should not be seen as a barrier to pursuing academic dream.
“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. What is the lesson? Our age must never be a barrier to educational pursuit. What we need is commitment and passion to succeed,” he added.
Also speaking, the Dr Adeleke, who is the founder of the university, said Nigeria could become a better country if the people resolve to make the change.
He called on Nigerians who desire a good country to contribute their quota to nation-building and stop playing the blame game.
