Former presidential candidate, Chris Imumolen has slammed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, for claiming that President Bola Tinubu offered no support in the governor’s victory in the just-concluded Osun polls.
NEWSNGR reports that Imumolen shared his reservations via a statement.
He argued that Tinubu’s decision to remain neutral despite the All Progressives Congress (APC) having its own governorship candidate shows his support.
He argued that political support should not be reduced to financial assistance or open campaigning.
“Support in politics is not limited to standing on a campaign platform or openly mobilising votes for a candidate. Sometimes, leadership is demonstrated by what a leader deliberately refuses to do,” Imumolen said.
He said Tinubu did not turn the election into a personal battle or deploy the power of his office against Adeleke.
“President Tinubu demonstrated an extraordinary level of democratic restraint in Osun. He remained neutral even when the candidate of his own party was contesting the election,” he said.
He also cited Tinubu’s reported intervention concerning the Osun State Government’s account and his communication with Adeleke before the election result was announced as examples of what he described as statesmanship.
“Imagine what would have happened if the President had decided to use every available instrument at his disposal against Adeleke simply because the Governor was contesting against the President’s party.
“Instead, the President maintained his democratic disposition. He allowed traditional rulers, political actors, stakeholders and ordinary citizens to exercise their judgment,” he said.
Imumolen stressed that his position did not mean Tinubu campaigned for Adeleke or financed his re-election bid.
“Nobody is saying President Tinubu campaigned for Adeleke. That is not the argument. The point is that the President’s conduct, restraint and democratic disposition contributed to an environment in which Adeleke was able to contest and secure support without the Federal Government turning the election into a presidential power contest,” he said.
He therefore described Olajengbesi’s claim that Tinubu offered “no support” as misleading.
According to him, political leaders should distinguish between partisan support and democratic statesmanship.
“Leadership is not only about what you do for your friends.
“Sometimes, it is about what you refuse to do to your opponents,” Imumolen said.
He urged Adeleke and his supporters to acknowledge what he called the President’s respect for the democratic process.
