The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Dr. Najeem Salaam, has extended a hand of fellowship to Governor Ademola Adeleke following his re-election, insisting that the will of the people must stand above all political ambitions. In a personal note to the governor, Salaam framed the election result not as a loss but as a victory for the democratic process itself.
Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, argued that the true purpose of elections is to hand power to the citizens, not to the candidates. He said that once the ballots are cast and counted, every contender has a duty to honor the verdict and protect the peace that democracy depends on. “At the end of the day, the choice of the people must prevail. In any democratic process, there will always be choices, contestation and differing views, but what matters most is that the people are given the opportunity to decide. Today, they have exercised that right, and their decision deserves our respect and support,” he wrote.
Acknowledging the reality of political contests, Salaam noted that every race produces a winner and a loser, but that outcome should never fracture the bonds of community. He called on all Omoluabi—people of integrity and honor—to reject the notion that politics is a do-or-die affair. “Political differences should never become reasons to threaten our peace, unity or brotherhood,” he warned.
Rather than dwelling on the defeat, Salaam turned his attention to the future of Osun State. He urged Adeleke to treat his renewed mandate as a chance for honest self-assessment, encouraging the governor to fix shortcomings while building on the achievements of his first term. “Governance is a continuous process, and every administration has areas that require reflection, correction and improvement,” Salaam advised.
The ADC candidate also pressed the governor to govern without bias, setting aside party loyalties and past rivalries. “Osun belongs to all of us. Beyond party lines and political differences, our collective responsibility is to build a state where every citizen can live with dignity, security and hope for a better future,” he added.
Salaam’s message came shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke the winner of the August 15 gubernatorial race, a result that has set the stage for a new term of leadership in the state.
