Olawale Rasheed is the Spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, a special adviser and a member of the Osun State Executive Council. He speaks on Osun politics, his journey in life and memories as a former member of the Tribune family in this interview to mark his 60th birthday anniversary.
How has the journey of life been?
Olawale Rasheed: I give thanks to God Almighty. It has been God all the way. The journey has been both rough and sweet. We had no silver spoon but here we are in good health and divine grace. Reaching this stage in life draws me closer to God, for the creator of heaven and earth has been too good to me. So when I look back and see where we are and where we are going, I am convinced to further increase my thankfulness to God. I must also express gratitude to our destiny helpers along the line. Professionally, my dear dons and leaders, Mr Folu Olamiti, Pastor Segun Olatunji, Dapo Ogunwusi and Mr Edward Dicson of Tribune family; my old bosses and political fathers namely late Chief SM Afolabi, Senator Oluwole Alabi, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi and Hon Mohammed Waki. I have bosses in the policy advocacy sector namely former Attorney General and Defence Minister, Prince Tokunbo Kayode and Prof Adesoji Adesugba, great leaders of chamber of Commerce and industry in Nigeria. In the religious sector, I’m ever indebted to late Sheikh Rauf Olododo; late Sheikh Abdulahi Salaty; late Mufty of Ilorin, Baba Apaokagi; lSheikh Imran Adio and our great Sheikh, the current Mufti of Ilorin, Sheikh Suleiman Farouk many others. Of course, it is a great privilege to be a lifelong member of the Adeleke dynasty where I have multiple mentors, fathers,leaders and a political mother. From the President of the Adeleke dynasty , Governor Ademola Adeleke to our godfather, Dr Deji Adeleke, the global business mogul to our godmother, Yeyeluwa Dupe Adeleke and to my two political bosses, Hon (Sheu) Kazeem Akinleye, Chief of Staff to the Governor and Dr Bashiru Tokunbo Salami, we owe a lot. Again, it has been great sailing with God.
You have seen a lot locally and nationally. What are the most significant events that stick in your memory?
Olawale Rasheed: Yes, a lot of moments are hardly difficult to forget. There was a time when the late House Speaker, Ghali Naaba barred me from entering the House of Representatives in those days of Presidency-House face off. I was fingered in the Naaba-must- go -media warfare. Luckily for me, he was overruled after a dramatic show of almost two days. I won’t forget in a hurry, the day late Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo called out to the Tribune and me, the reporter on the floor of the Senate. The intellectual giant and flamboyant politician followed it up with a direct search for me at the Senate lobby, blaring out “Where is that Tribune reporter?” I showed up among the reporters and the Number Three Citizen was holding a Tribune copy with our lead story, angrily querying, “where did you get this story”. In the great Tribune tradition, I boldly strolled out, saying “we stand by our story”. Then, there was that unfortunate era when late Chief Bola Ige was accused of financial issues and had to attend a Senate hearing relating to the power sector. The narrative was somehow skewed in the mainstream reporting but Tribune maintained the path of honour. So, after attending one of those hearings, late Cicero came out and was asking, who is the Tribune reporter with the name Olawale Rasheed, I came out and the former Governor of the old Oyo state did a side hug with me. It meant a lot to me that day. There was a day we learnt of a secret meeting ongoing at the Gana street residence of Late Solomon Lar. After a long wait, we heard former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida was inside. After a long wait, the Minna tophill super don came out. Like a stubborn newshound, I was the first to ask a question. Then the General stopped me and asked : what is your name and which newspaper? I answered. As I mentioned my names, he said “ohhhhh, I always read your articles and political commentaries. You have fantastic imaginations and skills”. I could not proceed and before we knew it, the General was already on his way. There were so many significant landmarks. Something to remember also was a life threatening incident during the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency. We were in Maiduguri with the Minister of the Republic, Mohammed Wakil, whom I served as Special Assistant. Then one early morning, Boko Haram insurgents laid siege on Maiduguri, blocking all roads leading to the city and launching an offensive meant to actually take the city. Airport and land routes were shut. We were trapped. The siege lasted two full days before reinforcement and the push back of the insurgents.
–You are part of the Tribune family. What are the memories you hold of the newspaper platform?
Olawale Rasheed: Honestly, Tribune is a great institution which has contributed to the economic and political development of this country in many unquantifiable ways. Tribune was where God did his miracles in my life. The platform provided a veritable firebrand space for me to display my passion for political reporting. I thank the Awolowo family and our successive leaders and management team. The Tribune honoured me with a rare privilege of being the group politics editor of the oldest private newspaper in Nigeria while at the same time serving as the Abuja Bureau Chief. My memories of the Tribune are totally positive and deeply appreciative. I won’t forget Pastor Olatunji and my boss, Edward Dicson who was the politics editor before I took over. The other team leaders like Alhaji Debo Abdulahi, Sina Oladeinde and Lasisi Olagunju are great media professionals whose impact and contributions cannot be underestimated. Let’s add that I met my wife, Tolulope, daughter of that great journalist and comrade, Chief Niyi Oniororo, at the Tribune house.
Why did you join journalism as a career originally?
Olawale Rasheed: Actually, I was a campus journalist at the University of Ilorin and of course I have deep interest in writing and politics even before entering the university. My late father was an old chieftain of both the defunct Action Group, the Unity Party of Nigeria and of course the then Social Democratic Party(SDP). So from secondary school, I was involved with the youth wing of the UPN and the Peoples Solidarity Party. So I entered the University as a young politician seeking media as an avenue for expression of political vision and mission. It was thus natural for me to enter the media space after my Masters degree. I did this coming out straight from the 1994 National Constitutional Conference where I served as the Secretary to Chief Abiola Ogundokun to join the Third Eye newspapers.
You had a change of career and veered into the business world.How was it when it lasts?
Olawale Rasheed: Actually, the slight change of career was due to a lot of factors namely the opportunities I had for political appointments at the federal level and the advent of new media. The new media changed the media landscape , making the field increasingly less profitable even for established media organisations. It was thus innovative for me to change the focus and that was how I became a policy advocacy professional as well as a railway policy activist. I run a railway consulting firm with partners from Europe and South Africa until this appointment. But more importantly, I served for four years as special assistant to the Minister of Youth Development and later as Special assistant to a minister in the power sector. So my future plans and career goals changed, hence the business option.
You left journalism for politics. Why and any regret?
Olawale Rasheed- Yes, like I noted earlier, I was born into a political family. I was actually a politician before joining journalism. So my current partisan politics is like a return to base. Why? Well, politics is the most noble of all human endeavour as it focuses on acquisition and deployment of state power. So I have no regrets. It is an honour to be part of a party under great man, Sunday Bisi and a government under Asiwaju Ademola Adeleke who is widely known and seen to be a super agent of good governance. You won’t regret it when you are privileged to be part of a team that is addressing multiple developmental challenges facing our dear state of Osun.
You work for one of the most popular Governors in Nigeria. What manner of person is Governor Adeleke?
Olawale Rasheed: My principal is the most deeply intelligent and charismatic administrator I have ever come across. His capacity to read and understand human nature knows no bounds. He has a clean heart and has no space for grudges. His openness to new ideas is astounding. He is a team player as long as the focus is public good. You may run into issues with him if your motives are less than noble. He detests corruption so deeply that he will endlessly lecture his team about public probity and accountability. Many know him at first as a dancing governor, two years after, the world recognizes Mr Governor as Mr Performer, Action Governor, Mr Infrastructure, Mr Talk and Do among others. Inside the dancing governor is a personality with unwavering passion for good governance and its delivery at the minimum cost with local content among others.
What is the scorecard of the administration like?
Olawale Rasheed: Within two years, Mr Governor constructed over 150 kilometers of roads, rehabilitated 200 health centers and over 100 schools, paid 48 billion naira in pension debt, liquidated substantial half salary debt, reduced osun debt by over 40 percent, launched an ongoing multi-billion naira infra agenda,realized the vision of University of Ilesa, completed abandoned projects at Osun state university, approved free medical care for Osun pensioners, disbursed over N4 billion naira for cooperative and artisans in Osun state, restored professionalism within the state public service, purchased 31 tractors after 14 years, created and launched Osun ICT policy and digital economy agenda, launched the Osun statewide agropreneur project and enforced local content in project implementation alongside the slogan: “Osun money for Osun development” Currently, another 100 kilometers of road is under construction while work is been fast tracked on dualisation of road at Ilesa as well as flyover bridges at Osogbo and Ile ife. The good performance of Mr governor has earned him accolades from far and near.
We notice a close working relationship between Osun state and the Federal Government. Are we likely to see your Governor moving into the APC?
Olawale Rasheed: The administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke places emphasis on delivering on good governance rather than politics for politics shake. In pursuance of that policy, Mr Governor opens the doors of the subnational level to partner with the center. So the state has a rapid response approach to all federal requests for partnership across the sectors. This approach championed by Mr Governor ensures that Osun keys into all federal programnes without partisan considerations. The First Lady of the Republic has visited Osun three times and was fully hosted by Mr Governor. So Osun should be commended for placing good governance above partisan bickering and fighting.
But that does not point to any possibility of cross carpeting. Governor Adeleke is not leaving PDP. As a governor with over 90 percent approval rating, he has no reason to quit the PDP. Mr Governor is however a great supporter of President Tinubu. He has nothing against the possible re-election of President Tinubu. The general understanding is that Mr President also has nothing against the re-election of Governor Adeleke. That probably explains why former Governor Oyetola may not be contesting in 2026 according to reports. More seriously is that only Mr Governor can deliver clean overwhelming Osun votes for the President in 2027 if such needs ever arises. As the Governor has enormous street credibility, it is politically pointless and damaging to contemplate fighting the re-election of such a populist subnational leader.
So can your principal win re-election in 2026?
Olawale Rasheed: Governor Adeleke has always won elections in Osun. In 2018, we were rigged out and the whole world attested to it. Mr Governor won in 2022 and his performance so far confirms that there is no vacancy in Abere for 2026. The issue is that the Osun APC is not electable. On a daily basis, the Osun APC embarrasses Mr President by its past failure and its glaring incompetency as an opposition. Many leaders in Abuja are ashamed of the conduct of APC leaders in the state. Sometime ago, a survey disclosed that Osun APC has lost 45 percent of its membership to APC. The report noted that the loss was mainly from the Oyetola camp. From last year when the report was issued, Osun APC has suffered almost weekly defection. What remains of the opposition is now split into several factions. By all accounts, Mr Governor is on the road to winning a resounding re-election in the next 18 months.
You contested for governorship before, do you have a plan to succeed your boss after second term in 2030?
Olawale Rasheed: I have no such plan. My assignment as directed by my principal and our leaders is to promote and defend Mr Governor. That is the task at hand. The second is to work assiduously for the re-election of Mr Governor. Within the Adeleke dynasty, we don’t pursue ambition. We have leaders who set the direction of the game. Anybody scheming for anything now is either a traitor or an amateur in the political game. We have seen a lot in Osun politics from SDP days to date.
