A veteran security reporter, Mr Folorunsho Atta, has said that contrary to widespread fears before and during last Saturday’s Osun State governorship election that President Bola Tinubu and members of his party would manipulate the process, the President could not have done so because he understood the political consequences.
Analysing the outcome of the election, which returned the incumbent Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, Atta described Tinubu as a politician who is not only ahead of many others in political calculation but also a student of Yoruba history.
According to him, the President would not risk truncating or manipulating an electoral process in a manner that could trigger bloodshed and ultimately undermine his chances of re-election in 2027.
“The truth is that the Yoruba people see an injustice against one person as an injustice against all. Look at the political turbulence in the Western Region in 1965, the Akin Omoboriowo election violence in old Ondo State in 1983, and the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, in which Tinubu was one of the foremost pro-democracy activists fighting for the restoration of the mandate.”
Atta also credited Governor Adeleke’s performance over the past four years, particularly in security and infrastructure, for earning the trust of the people of Osun State.
“The crime rate in the state has been reduced to the barest minimum. Osun under Adeleke has not witnessed violent crimes such as widespread kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery as it did before he assumed office four years ago.
“Governor Adeleke has done a fantastic job in ensuring security and safety. Violent crimes such as armed robbery, cult activities and kidnapping are now rare. His strong security architecture has successfully prevented terrorists and bandits from infiltrating the state.
“He has also used state resources effectively to protect lives and property. Today, Osun ranks among the four most peaceful states in Nigeria.”
Atta argued that allowing any form of electoral manipulation in Osun would have been politically damaging for the President.
“With all these achievements, if the President had allowed his party to use unfair tactics during last Saturday’s election, it would certainly have hurt his chances of securing a second term. Thankfully, he respected the free choice of the people, just as former President Muhammadu Buhari did during the 2020 Edo State governorship election after Governor Godwin Obaseki defected from the APC to the PDP. Obaseki won convincingly because the election was conducted in a free and fair manner.”
The veteran journalist said he had written extensively between 2024 and 2025 on Governor Adeleke’s security architecture since the governor assumed office in 2022.
He maintained that Tinubu, who enjoys strong support among his followers and commands significant political influence, understood that manipulating the Osun election would have generated a backlash capable of affecting his electoral prospects in the South-West ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“If the President had yielded to the desperate moves by some members of his party to capture Osun at all costs, I can confidently say he would never have won the South-West in 2027. He made the right decision because he understands how his people react whenever elections are manipulated in the region.”
Atta also commended Afrobeat star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, for supporting his uncle during the election.
According to him, Davido’s decision to draw the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump to alleged attempts by some politicians to undermine the credibility of the election was not out of place.
“Davido’s action demonstrated his creativity beyond the entertainment industry. It showed that he can make meaningful contributions to politics and other areas of national life.”
He urged Nigerian youths to emulate Davido’s civic engagement while advising those involved in criminal activities to abandon such acts.
“It is unprecedented for a young music icon to have disrupted the political calculations of no fewer than 17 governors in an African country. Young Nigerians should channel their influence towards promoting democracy and national development rather than engaging in illegal activities.” #Securitynewsalert.com
