Rebutting Olajengbesi’s Falsehoods, Setting the Record Straight

By: Akinwole Akinbola John

The attention of The Cradle Business-Political Group has been drawn to what we consider yet another false narrative pushed by Pelumi Olajengbesi, recently recruited by the Accord Party, in an attempt to misinform unsuspecting citizens of Osun State.

The statements he made, along with what we see as irresponsible grandstanding on Western Spring Television in Osogbo, should not be ignored or allowed to pass without response.

Speaking as a spokesperson of the Adeleke Campaign Organisation, Olajengbesi claimed that his principal was responsible for the emergence of the five lawmakers who defected to the APC. This, to us, is not only false but reflects a troubling mix of misinformation, ignorance, and selective memory.

One is compelled to ask: in what frame of mind would anyone assert that Ademola Adeleke made Senator Francis Fadahunsi popular? Where was Ademola Adeleke when Fadahunsi first contested party primaries alongside Iyiola Omisore?

Where was Adeleke during Fadahunsi’s extensive senatorial campaign in 2015?

Where was he in 2018 when the political climate within the party was largely against Fadahunsi—even after Fadahunsi had supported him during PDP primaries? It is widely known the significant role Fadahunsi played in securing Ademola Adeleke’s candidacy at the time.

Where was Adeleke when Fadahunsi won his senatorial election in 2019?

At this point, it becomes necessary to provide some context and historical clarity for Olajengbesi, whose commentary suggests a limited grasp of Osun’s political evolution.
Dr. Deji Adeleke actively campaigned in Osun West and Osun Central to support PDP candidates, yet did not campaign in Osun East at any point.

In 2022, the Adeleke family fully backed Hon. Gbenga Onigbogi and pursued that political contest with great intensity. When it became evident that victory was uncertain, the Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi, reportedly reached out to Dr. Deji Adeleke, who then contacted former National Chairman Uche Secondus to request that the primaries be relocated to Osogbo.

However, Hon. Soji Adagunodo and other members of the National Working Committee who chose to uphold the party’s constitution ensured that the primaries remained in Osun East.
Unable to secure victory through a fair contest against Fadahunsi, efforts were allegedly made to move the process to Osunjela—an action whose motives can be inferred.

Ultimately, those efforts did not succeed. To this day, tensions remain with the individual entrusted to conduct the election, largely because he maintained his position.

This recounting is necessary to help Olajengbesi understand that political realities are far more complex than the activism of student union struggles.

The aftermath of those events still lingers, with many delegates who supported Fadahunsi reportedly facing victimization or stigma.
Given this history, it is difficult to understand the basis of Olajengbesi’s claim that Adeleke “made” Fadahunsi. One might also ask whether he recalls that Fadahunsi’s branded buses played a major role in mobilizing supporters during the final 2022 governorship campaign—particularly when members of the NURTW, in solidarity with the APC candidate, declined to provide transport support.

Fadahunsi’s contributions—reportedly including the provision of over 200 buses and more than 500 motorcycles—facilitated the movement of supporters, including the visit of Governor Seyi Makinde from Oyo State, and added momentum to Adeleke’s campaign.

It is equally puzzling to hear claims that Adeleke made Hon. Sanya Omirin. Was Adeleke responsible for Omirin’s appointment as Secretary of Atakunmosa East Local Government in 1998? Where was Ademola Adeleke at that time? Or where was Olajengbesi when Omirin served as Secretary of the UNCP in 1997?

Did Adeleke appoint Omirin as Commissioner in the State Civil Service Commission under Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, or as Chairman of Atakunmosa East Local Government?

Perhaps Olajengbesi is unaware that Hon. Omirin served as Osun State’s representative at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission in Abuja between 2011 and 2016.
He may also not know that the Adelekes opposed Omirin’s ambition for the House of Representatives, instead backing Ibukun Fadipe.

It is also worth recalling that Hon. Omirin contested the 2022 governorship primaries alongside Ademola Adeleke—something Olajengbesi may have overlooked.
While we will not revisit the issue concerning Hon. Oke, as his interviewers already addressed it, it is evident that Olajengbesi remains particularly fixated on that matter.

One might even wonder whether Olajengbesi played a role in Adeleke securing the ADC ticket for Senator Biyi Fadeyi in 2019, or whether Adeleke personally canvassed votes across Osun Central during that election. Perhaps the intense primaries that produced Ajagunla in 2022 were also the result of such influence.

Finally, the claim that the Adelekes “made” Hon. Bimbo Ajilesoro raises further questions. On what basis can such an assertion be made?

We have laid out these facts to provide clarity and to encourage Olajengbesi to approach his role with greater diligence and a stronger commitment to historical accuracy.

Akinwole Akinbola John
Chairman, The Cradle Business-Political Group
Ile-Ife, Osun State
25/04/2026