Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has defended his frequent public dancing, saying it is part of his personality and family tradition and does not interfere with his responsibilities as governor.
Adeleke made the remarks on Tuesday during an Arise TV town hall meeting involving candidates contesting the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Responding to criticism of his dancing, the governor said he could combine his passion for music and entertainment with effective governance.
“They are jealous of me because they cannot dance. In our family, we are jolly good fellows; we have music in our blood. Nobody will stop me from dancing. As I am dancing, I am working,” Adeleke said.
He argued that there is a proper time for both work and recreation, insisting that his dancing should not be used as a measure of his performance in office.
“There is time for everything, there is time to dance, and there is time to work. Dancing does not stop me from working. I have delivered across all sectors,” he said.
Adeleke’s comments followed criticism from Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who mocked him during an APC campaign rally in Osun State over his frequent dancing.
Okpebholo urged voters to reject what he described as the “dancing governor”, questioning whether Adeleke’s public displays of dancing were appropriate for someone occupying a political office.
“Before somebody sign paper, he will dance. Are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing. Before he take breakfast, before he drink tea, he will dance,” Okpebholo said.
The Edo governor also criticised Adeleke’s participation in meetings involving state governors, alleging that he often arrived late and missed important discussions.
“I was asking my friend and I said, I can’t even remember when I saw this man in our general meeting in Abuja. Before he even enter the plane, he will dance. Before he get there, we are closed,” Okpebholo said.
Adeleke dismissed the criticism and challenged those who were unhappy with his dancing to learn the skill themselves.
“If they can’t dance, I can teach them how to dance,” he said, maintaining that dancing was simply a hobby and had no bearing on his ability to govern.
The governor also highlighted some of the achievements of his administration during the town hall, including road construction and rehabilitation and the installation of solar-powered streetlights along selected roads.
He further said more than 200 primary healthcare facilities had been upgraded and rehabilitated, with improvements including access to electricity and clean water.
Adeleke is seeking another term after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Accord Party. He faces APC candidate Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, ADC candidate Najeem Salaam and other contenders in the August 15 election.
The exchange between Adeleke and Okpebholo has added a lighter but politically charged element to the final stage of the Osun election campaign, with candidates intensifying their efforts to win voters ahead of the poll.
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