By Hon. Comrade James Onifade 
…Hon Comrade James Onifade sends a strong message to the good people of Osun State
The ultimate test of democratic governance isn’t what leaders promise during campaigns but what they deliver during their tenure. By that measure, Governor Adeleke’s record speaks clearly, he is governing for the people, and the people are feeling the difference.
As Osun State approaches the 2026 gubernatorial election, the question before voters is increasingly clear: should they reward performance with continuity or gamble on uncertainty? Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration has been steadily building a persuasive answer through consistent delivery, empathetic governance, and a practical demonstration of what democracy truly means.
Democracy, in its purest form, means the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Yet too often, this noble principle remains confined to campaign slogans and inauguration speeches. Governor Adeleke’s tenure represents something different: a lived commitment to democratic ideals translated into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.
His persistent efforts to clear inherited salary arrears, despite severe financial constraints, exemplify governance that prioritizes people over politics. While previous administrations viewed workers’ entitlements as negotiable expenses, Adeleke treats them as sacred obligations. This isn’t merely fiscal management; it’s a fundamental respect for the social contract between government and governed.
The Trust Restoration Project
Perhaps Adeleke’s most significant achievement has been the restoration of trust between Osun’s government and its people. For years, workers went to bed uncertain whether their labor would be honored, whether their families could be fed, and whether their sacrifices mattered to those in power. That psychological burden has been systematically lifted.
Each cleared arrears payment represents more than money deposited into bank accounts. It represents promises kept, dignity restored, and faith renewed. In a political landscape littered with broken commitments, Adeleke’s consistency stands as a beacon of reliability. This trust, once rebuilt, becomes the foundation for everything else, from policy implementation to civic engagement.
Beyond Arrears: A Holistic Development Agenda
While the salary payments capture headlines and touch hearts, they form just one pillar of a comprehensive development strategy. Governor Adeleke’s reported investments in infrastructure, healthcare, and grassroots empowerment suggest a leader thinking beyond immediate crises toward sustainable transformation.
Infrastructure development creates jobs today and competitive advantages tomorrow. Healthcare investments protect families from the devastating financial impact of illness. Grassroots empowerment ensures that prosperity reaches beyond urban centers into rural communities long neglected by previous administrations.
This multi-dimensional approach addresses both the wounds of the past and the possibilities of the future, positioning Osun for long-term growth rather than short-term political gains.
The APC’s legacy of wage crises and worker neglect speaks to a governance model where ordinary citizens’ needs were subordinated to other priorities. Adeleke’s record suggests a different hierarchy of values, where meeting people’s basic needs isn’t optional but essential.
The Performance Mandate
The strongest argument for Adeleke’s re-election is the simplest: he is delivering. In politics, performance should be the ultimate currency, yet it’s often overshadowed by rhetoric, promises, and partisan loyalties. Osun’s voters now have the increasingly rare opportunity to judge a leader based on documented achievements rather than projected possibilities.
The cleared arrears aren’t promises; they’re confirmable facts. Workers can check their bank statements. Families can testify to reduced hardship. The evidence isn’t in campaign materials but in lived experience. This creates a foundation for electoral support built not on hope alone but on demonstrated capacity.
What makes Adeleke’s governance particularly significant is how it embodies democracy not as an event that happens every four years but as a daily practice of responsiveness and accountability. By prioritizing workers’ welfare despite political pressure and financial constraints, he demonstrates that democratic governance means making difficult choices in favor of the people, even when easier alternatives exist.
This practical application of democratic principles matters because it changes expectations. Citizens who experience government actually working for them develop different standards for future leaders. They become less tolerant of excuses and more demanding of results. This cultural shift toward accountability may prove to be Adeleke’s most enduring contribution.
As Osun approaches 2026, voters face a straightforward choice: continue with a governor who has demonstrated both commitment and capacity or risk reverting to the failed approaches of the past. The case for continuity rests not on partisan loyalty but on empirical evidence.
Governor Adeleke has shown that even with significant constraints, principled leadership can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. He has proven that campaign promises can become governing realities, that workers’ welfare can be prioritized, and that trust between government and citizens can be rebuilt.
The question isn’t whether Adeleke deserves re-election based on potential; it’s whether Osun’s voters will reward demonstrated performance with the opportunity to complete the work begun. In a democracy that truly functions of, by, and for the people, that decision belongs to the citizens whose lives have been touched by policies that put them first.
For those who now see salary alerts where once there was uncertainty, who experienced responsive governance where once there was indifference, the answer may already be clear. Democracy works best when voters reward leaders who deliver, and in 2026, Osun has the chance to do exactly that.
E-signed: Hon. Comrade James Onifade
Advocate for Good Governance and A Better Judicial System
26th December, 2025
Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin