Mr. Dandy Eze is the National President of Path of Peace Initiatives, a Nigerian-based non-profit organisation. An active voice in the human rights community, he is a member of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and the Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Centre. He also serves as the Southeast Coordinator for the Restructure Nigeria for Good organisation. Excerpt. In a recent conversation with Securitynewsalert.com, Eze applauded the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, for his administration’s strides in security and youth initiatives, outlining why he believes the Governor has earned a second term.
Who is Governor Adeleke to you, and how did you meet him?
I have known Governor Adeleke for nearly 30 years. He is one of the rare Nigerians whose “milk of human kindness” still flows freely. It is no surprise that the people of Osun State love him so passionately; he simply cannot bear to see others suffer. He has a deep compassion for the poor and is always willing to give his all to put a smile on someone’s face. That is the man I have known for decades.
He is a very good friend of mine and a close associate of one of my mentors. Although I have not had the opportunity to speak with him since he assumed office, I have been following his activities and governance very closely.
Why should the people of Osun State vote for him again?
The people of Osun already see the impact on the ground. Governor Adeleke has performed exceptionally well and has served the people effectively.
Before his administration, people frequently came to me to fight for their rights regarding unpaid gratuities, delayed salaries, and pension arrears. Some workers went two or three years without pay. Since Adeleke took office, those complaints have vanished. Instead of grievances, I only hear good news.
As an activist, my loyalty is to the truth. If there were wrongdoing, I would be the first to speak out, regardless of our friendship. If I stayed silent on failures, people would rightly call me a sell-out. The fact that those complaints have stopped proves he is doing his job honourably, a rarity among many Nigerian politicians. I don’t even need to tell the people of Osun to vote for him; they have already told me they are ready to support him.
What are his primary achievements since taking office?
His greatest achievement is the tangible joy he has brought to the state. He has transformed the very style of leadership in Osun, moving away from “business as usual.” Governance is now about the happiness of the people rather than the pockets of the leadership.
Unlike many politicians who remain indifferent to the suffering of those they govern, Adeleke shows genuine concern. He views leadership as a tool to alleviate suffering, not as an opportunity for embezzlement.
I know the Adeleke family personally. I was very close to the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the first governor of the state. They are a family built for leadership. Unlike those who enter office to enrich themselves, the Adelekes stand apart because of their established commitment to service.
What has he done to address insecurity in the state?
Upon assuming office, Governor Adeleke made security a top priority. He immediately motivated security personnel, which had an immediate impact. This coincided with the deployment of Patrick Longe (now a retired AIG) as the Commissioner of Police for Osun. Longe is a “no-nonsense” officer and one of the finest in the country.
Together, they reinvigorated the security apparatus. Crime rates dropped significantly, and many criminals fled to neighbouring states. Beyond enforcement, the Governor focused on youth empowerment and job creation, which addressed the root causes of crime.
Today, residents of Osun can sleep with both eyes closed. I invite the press to visit the streets and villages to verify this; the people’s admiration for him is rooted in this newfound peace.
What is your parting message?
I strongly urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration not to interfere with or attempt to rig the upcoming elections in Osun. Unfortunately, “selection” rather than “election” has become a common modus operandi in Nigeria.
The people must be allowed to vote freely and fairly without harassment, intimidation, or external influence. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must remain truly independent and impartial. This election should serve as a test of the commission’s integrity. I implore the President to remain neutral so that the will of the Osun people can prevail. #Securitynewsalert.com
