The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, has paid a courtesy visit to Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, in Osogbo.

Basiru said the visit was prompted by three major reasons, including appreciation for Adeleke’s support during his bereavement, congratulations on his recent re-election and appreciation for the governor’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking during the visit, Basiru thanked Adeleke for attending the final rites of his late mother and visiting his residence during his period of mourning earlier this year.

He acknowledged that he had delayed reciprocating the visit because of the political atmosphere surrounding the governorship election, during which he campaigned against Adeleke.

“You are the chief executive officer, and you still find time. And not only that you came to my personal house to extend your condolences to me, you also frontally attended. I cannot, because of politics, gloss over that act of charity,” Basiru said.

He added that although he would ordinarily have visited Adeleke earlier, he was concerned that his gesture could be misinterpreted during the election campaign.

“Politics can be very toxic. People will say, ‘Ah, we are doing election, oh, we are in the field.’ And I was campaigning vigorously against you, sir,” he said.

Basiru also congratulated Adeleke on his re-election, admitting that he had supported the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, during the election.

“Secondly, I must also come as a democrat to congratulate you on your recent victory. And I must say that I did not want you to win.

“I wanted Oyebamiji to win that election, my candidate that I worked for in that election. But as it were, Allah (God) alone can give power to whoever He wants,” he said.

The APC national secretary said Adeleke’s victory should be recognised as the outcome of a democratic contest, regardless of his personal preference for the result.

He said, “As a student of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the democrat, I must also at every point in time recognise that in a democratic contest, one must win, and the struggle continues.”

Basiru’s third reason for the visit was to commend Adeleke for maintaining his earlier commitment to support President Tinubu’s bid for the 2027 presidential election.

He said he had followed reports suggesting that some expected Adeleke to withdraw his support for Tinubu after securing re-election.

Basiru, however, commended the governor for remaining firm on his position.

He said he had “read both news media and social media” and noted that some people expected Adeleke to renege on his earlier promise to endorse Tinubu, but the governor had “stood firm.”