By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on his 65th birthday, celebrated on May 13.

The President noted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor has carved a niche for himself as a politician of repute, not only in Osun State but also across the country and beyond.

The President’s birthday wishes were contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, made available to newsmen in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Tuesday.

Adeleke was first elected as Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District in 2017, taking over from his late brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, before becoming governor in 2022.

Commending Governor Adeleke, President Tinubu noted that he has proven to be a pan-Nigerian figure in both lifestyle and governance philosophy, exemplified by his Yoruba and Igbo heritage.

The president personally prayed for many more years, good health, and God’s infinite mercies upon Adeleke, the Asiwaju of Edeland, his hometown.

Similarly, the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) felicitated with the celebrant on his birthday anniversary, while also urging him to rise to the challenge of delivering qualitative governance to the visibly deprived people of the state.

The party’s Director of Media and Information, Mr. Kola Olabisi, in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo, lamented that since the inauguration of the Adeleke-led administration over two years ago, there has been little or no access to meaningful dividends of democracy for the residents of the state.

“We wonder if the ‘Birthday Boy’ is not concerned that since he assumed the leadership of the state, the proverbial birds have not been singing like birds, while the plight of the rats has remained stagnant.

“As a responsible political party that constitutionally puts your government on its toes in the overall interest of the people of Osun State, we celebrate this special day with you.

“We hope that as you add another year to your earthly journey, it will mark a turning point — a moment for reflection and redirection of policies that have become the albatross of your administration.

“When you reflect on your performance in government over the past two years, it should become clear that state governance is not a tea party.

“As a party that is keenly interested in the development of the state, we will not hesitate to remind you that the end of your four-year tenure is fast approaching. Let this realisation guide your decisions in the remainder of your time in office.

“It is important to inform you that those of us who are ardent critics of your administration are doing so with the state’s best interests at heart — unlike the ubiquitous praise-singers masquerading as your allies, who are in fact the true enemies of the state.” the statement said