By John Dike, Osogbo
A chieftain of the Accord Party, Timothy Folaranmi, popularly known as Timo Ejigbo, has described Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election as a reflection of the confidence reposed in his administration by the people of Osun State.
He said Adeleke’s victory was achieved through prayers, perseverance and the appreciation of the governor’s performance by residents across the state.
The Accord Party candidate and incumbent governor was declared winner of the August 15 governorship election after securing 511,067 votes, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
Speaking on the outcome of the election, Folaranmi said the result demonstrated that the people of Osun were satisfied with Adeleke’s performance during his first term and therefore deserved another opportunity to consolidate on his achievements.
He expressed confidence that the governor would perform better in his second term, saying the voters who supported him were aware of the projects and programmes implemented by his administration.
“The people of Osun that voted for the Governor know who he is and the work he has been doing that warranted them voting for him, and I believe that he will do better than the first term,” Folaranmi said.
Folaranmi also explained that his involvement in politics was motivated by a desire to contribute to the welfare and development of his people rather than pursue personal interests.
He said his philosophy was rooted in giving back to society and supporting people with whatever resources God had made available to him.
“I do not have much, but the little God gives me, I give it out. I can just say giving out is my talent. What drives me into politics is not just personal gain. One of the reasons I joined politics is so that we can help our people,” he said.
Salami lauds Folaranmi’s sports development efforts
Meanwhile, Comrade Tunde Salami, popularly known as Sportman, has commended Folaranmi for his contributions to sports development and grassroots mobilisation in Ejigbo Local Government Area.
Salami described Folaranmi as a major stakeholder in the development of football in the area, saying his interventions had provided opportunities for young footballers and contributed to the discovery and development of grassroots talents.
According to him, Folaranmi’s contribution to sports development in Ejigbo could not be overlooked.
“Today, when we talk about sports development in Ejigbo Local Government, we cannot do without Comrade Timothy Folaranmi. He has done a lot in the football circle,” Salami said.
He specifically mentioned the Timo for Imole Football Competition, which he said was initiated during the 2024/2025 period as part of Folaranmi’s efforts to promote grassroots football.
Salami said the competition offered substantial prizes to participating teams and created a platform for young footballers to showcase their talents.
“He hosted the first edition of the football competition in 2024/2025 called Timo for Imole Football Competition. The first prize came with millions of naira, and we are just deciding on the second edition last week. He is the best so far and we really appreciate him,” he said.
Salami further disclosed that Folaranmi had extended his support beyond players by assisting referees and coaches, including helping some coaches who recently underwent professional training.
He said members of the sports community in Ejigbo appreciated the politician’s interventions and pledged to reciprocate the gesture by contributing to the development of sports and youth empowerment in the local government.
According to him, Folaranmi recognised the importance of sports as a tool for youth engagement and mobilisation, which informed his decision to make sports one of the major pillars of his grassroots activities.
“He also believes that where we have youths is mainly in sports. That is why he made sports one of the pillars of mobilisation,” Salami added.
