Former governor of Osun State Olagunsoye Oyinlola has revealed that Governor Ademola Adeleke once broke down in tears due to pressure from the Presidency.
Mr Oyinlola made the disclosure during a recent interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time show.
He said the weight of presidential pressure on political leaders has become overwhelming, even for those within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He also raised concerns about the increasing trend of defections to the APC, describing it as a challenge for Nigeria’s democracy.
“If you look at the communique, it was clearly pointed out, why should everybody be crossing over to the APC? That was the core of the discussion,” Oyinlola said.
He recounted a personal conversation with Governor Adeleke, noting the impact of the pressure.
“When I was having a discussion with him, the Osun State Governor, he shed tears,” Oyinlola said.
“How can you withstand presidential pressure? It is too much for anybody to bear, no matter who you are.”
The former governor said the growing dominance of the APC is shrinking the space for opposition politics and affecting political representation across states.
He urged stakeholders to consider the implications of these defections on democratic governance and the ability of opposition parties to provide checks and balance.
Olagunsoye Oyinlola served as governor of Osun State from 2003 to 2010 and has also held senior positions within the PDP.
