Ademola Adeleke has dismissed calls by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State for the resignation of his Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye.
The governor described the demand as a “melancholic tantrum,” insisting it was baseless and politically motivated.
In a statement released on Saturday in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke said the opposition party was merely venting frustration over what he termed its dwindling political relevance.
The APC had on Friday demanded Akinleye’s resignation over alleged links to a reported N13.7 billion payroll fraud controversy, prompting the state government’s swift rebuttal.
Rasheed said the opposition was “largely overwhelmed and in political depression. Hon Akinleye is an efficient Chief of Staff to a multiple award-winning governor of Osun State
“The CoS’s competence and capacity for the job is validated by the impressive performance of the current administration, which is acknowledged at home and abroad.”
He added that as head of staff in the Governor’s Office, Akinleye had demonstrated “acute mastery of governance processes and served as a consensus builder committed to due process.
“Just like the governor, the Chief of Staff is widely acknowledged as a man of vision who resists any ploy to derail the delivery of good governance in Osun State.”
Rasheed said Akinleye had acted as a “strong gatekeeper ensuring that the state was not defrauded in dealings involving Sally Tibbot. The governor remained proud of his contributions.
“No amount of blackmail will dent the reputation of integrity and service the CoS has built over the years.”
The spokesperson also claimed that Governor Adeleke currently enjoyed an approval rating of over 80 per cent, contrasting it with a disapproval rate of more than 85 per cent for the APC in the state.
“The tantrums from Osun APC are understandable. Where the opposition failed, the governor succeeded bountifully,” Rasheed said.
He alleged that the party faced electoral consequences over its past governance record and handling of local government funds.