…Says Tinubu is sowing seeds of development
..Says world belongs to hardworking people, not miracle seekers
…Says Boko Haram crisis worsened by failure to grant amnesty
…Says South Africa has been most ungrateful to Nigeria
…Urges Nigeria to learn from China, not depend on the West
Alhaji Liad Tella is a former News Editor of The Punch, and former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the defunct Monitor Newspapers. In this interview with ROTIMI AGBOLUAJE, the All Progressives Congress [APC] chieftain said his party would defeat Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State in the August 15 governorship election, arguing that media popularity will not translate into electoral victory for the governor. He also expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will secure a second term in 2027 despite opposition. The media executive also spoke on insecurity, the economy and attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
The 2026 Osun State governorship election is set to be held next month. What is the fate of your party?
The governorship contest was initially expected to be between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). However, the crisis within the PDP has changed the dynamics of the race. With Governor Ademola Adeleke now contesting on the Accord Party platform, I believe the election has become less competitive for the APC. I can tell you that we will defeat the Accord party convincingly.
Some observers argue that the Accord Party appears more popular than the APC. How do you respond?
Such people judge by appearances rather than reality. I have said before that the Adeleke administration lacks structure and focus. In terms of development planning or infrastructure delivery, it is not a well-coordinated government. Take road infrastructure as an example. How many of the projects initiated across the state have been completed? In Ile-Ife, several projects were started simultaneously, yet many remain unfinished. That has created significant challenges for residents.
Aside from road construction, it is difficult to identify major achievements in many sectors. In education, many government-owned primary and secondary schools face shortages of teachers. Some schools with enrolments of more than 500 pupils have fewer than five teachers. There are also secondary schools without enough subject specialists.
The health sector faces similar challenges. Many hospitals lack adequate manpower, with shortages of doctors and nurses. And a good number of works in hospitals initiated under the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola have been abandoned.
Yet many people say Governor Adeleke remains popular among the people of Osun. How do you reconcile that?
During my years as a News Editor, I regularly conducted opinion polls. My question is: has any media organisation carried out a scientific opinion poll in Osun State to support that assertion? People should rely on verifiable data rather than assumptions or narratives on social media. In 2018, together with Semiu Okanlawon and Mojeed Jamiu, I conducted an opinion poll before the governorship election. Based on our findings, I told Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that the election would be extremely close. I projected a margin of about 51 to 49 per cent and stated that the outcome would be decided in court rather than solely at the ballot box. I also advised on what to do. At the time, polling organisations from Germany, Britain and the United States predicted a comfortable victory for Oyetola. Our survey was among the few that projected a very tight contest. That is why I challenge anyone who claims Adeleke is popular to present credible polling data. Let them publish the methodology and statistics showing the governor’s level of public support. Scientific opinion polling, not assumptions, should determine such conclusions. Look at the United States, where opinion polls are conducted regularly to assess public support for President Donald Trump. Campaign crowds should not be mistaken for electoral strength. There is a clear difference between perceived popularity and actual voting behaviour. Excessive media hype can create false impressions and media hype will not save Governor Adeleke. APC will sweep him out of office during the August poll. From my assessment, the APC will perform strongly in Iwo. The establishment of the Federal College of Education has contributed to the town’s economic and social development, with increased commercial activities and physical expansion. The APC will perform well in Ile-Ife. I expect the contest in Ilesa to be much closer because the Ijesa electorate is difficult. In Osogbo, the APC has a strong chance of winning a majority of the votes. The ADC [African Democratic Congress] may perform well in Ejigbo because its governorship candidate hails from the area.
I also expect Ila-Orangun to be highly competitive. The town has benefited from significant federal educational investments over the years, including a military training institution, a university of medical sciences and others. Governor Adeleke will lose the election. He is not fully in control of governance. Members of the Adeleke family exercise significant influence over government decisions. Again, development has been concentrated in Ede, their hometown. My question is: is he governor of Ede alone? Many of the projects in Ede have either been completed or are nearing completion, while projects in many other parts of the state remain unfinished.
But the Ilesa dualisation project has been completed. Is that not a plus for the government?
That project covers only the stretch from the Roundabout to the Expressway. Road construction alone does not address the broader challenges facing education, healthcare and other sectors. Finally, the electorate will decide.
The state government is also dualising the Ila-Orangun road. Can this influence voting patterns?
The road is only about three kilometres long, and it has taken too long to complete.
Let’s go national now. In the face of mounting opposition, what is the fate of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 contest?
Even if the ADC, PDP, and other opposition parties were to come together in a coalition, they would not be strong enough to defeat President Bola Tinubu. The Obidient movement does not have the electoral strength it demonstrated in 2023. I expect Tinubu to improve his performance in the South-East. In my assessment, his administration has taken steps that I regard as advancing aspects of restructuring—an issue that has been discussed since the return to democratic rule. One example is the establishment of regional development commissions. Another is the step toward the introduction of state police. These reforms are gradual and will take time to produce results. Nigeria’s challenges developed over many decades and cannot be resolved overnight. If Tinubu secures a second term, many of these initiatives will mature and become more visible.
Some people argue that introducing state police in a pre-election period could be abused for political purposes. What is your response?
I disagree with that view. Nigeria faces serious security challenges, and the current number of police personnel is inadequate to address them effectively. As a founding member of the Police Community Relations Committee, I had the opportunity to study policing systems in countries such as Morocco, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Those countries have significantly larger security personnel than Nigeria.
I must say that Nigerians have the habit of criticising reforms before they are fully implemented. History also shows that some public officials, such as Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, who initiated important projects, were not adequately recognised for their contributions.
Let’s delve into the economy. Some Nigerians said that the economic reforms of the Bola Tinubu administration have not translated into improved living conditions. How would you react to this?
I acknowledge that many Nigerians are experiencing economic hardship. However, some of the government’s policies are beginning to produce results. For example, the increased domestic refining capacity has helped reduce dependence on imported petroleum products. Global events, including tensions in the Middle East, could have had a greater impact on fuel prices if Nigeria remained heavily reliant on imports. Overall, the economy is gradually improving, and industrial activities are expanding in parts of the country. The full benefits of current reforms will become clearer over time. President Tinubu has done excellently. The Industrial Revolution is gathering momentum.
Many Nigerians continue to complain of hardship and hunger despite the reforms. How do you respond?
Economic hardship is a reality for many people. However, high living costs are not unique to Nigeria and are relative. It is appropriate to state that those who seek miracles will continue to complain of hunger. Those hawking miracles rather than hard work are the problem of the country. Nigeria belongs to the hardworking people.
