By Kolade Ismail
The cast is now complete for the 2026 governorship race in Osun State, at least as far as the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is concerned. Eleven men are vying for the party’s ticket, each preening before the mirror as though he were the beautiful bride. Yet, on closer inspection, some appear more like contenders for the role of a favoured concubine—politically speaking.
Among them is an old hand from the East, grey as a sage, who once served as deputy governor and remains a party heavyweight. His biography is rich and his reputation well established. There are at least two former senators—one retired after electoral defeat, the other known for his self-care and suspected in political circles of being a “twin” in a coded sense. There are also two lawyers: one a wealthy newcomer to the party, the other a Senior Advocate of Nigeria—our “White Horse.”
This last figure stands out sharply from the background in a distinctly socio-political sense. But more on him later.
At present, Osun has a governor who is famous across Nigeria for one thing, and within the state for two. Governor Ademola Adeleke is known nationwide as the “dancing governor.” Currently, he is in faraway Miami, Florida, doing what he does best—dancing. Viral internet clips show him in colourful attire, rolling across the dance floor at his famous nephew’s extravagant wedding, which the groom reportedly boasted cost \$3.5 million. Adeleke appears to be stealing the show in his flowing agbada and pointed cap.
Meanwhile, back home, Osun’s citizens—facing tough economic times—are talking. Some speculate that portions of those millions may have come from the state treasury. There is, of course, no evidence, so their grievances remain unspoken, swallowed with frustration.
Osun, a 35-year-old state straddling the southwestern rainforest and Guinea savannah, has agriculture as its first line of strength. Yet to unlock this potential, its human resources must be developed. The state also boasts significant gold deposits along its riverbeds. It is said—credibly—that in Ilesa, one of Osun’s three largest cities, you are likely to find gold in the soil if you dig a well. This, along with other natural resources, positions the state for strategic development.
Osun—State of the Living Spring—is home to Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race, whose archaeological sites have yielded priceless ancient bronzes. The Yoruba people, indigenous to southern Nigeria and stretching westwards to Côte d’Ivoire, also have a large diaspora in Brazil, particularly in Bahia. Many of these descendants regularly travel to Ile-Ife to reconnect with their heritage, learn the Yoruba language, or study traditional religion, including Ifa divination. This cultural wealth holds immense tourism potential.
Earlier, I noted that Governor Adeleke is known across Nigeria for one thing—dancing—and within the state for two: prompt, full payment of salaries and the construction of two large bridges in the capital, Oshogbo, along with some road projects elsewhere. These are the chief merits of his tenure so far.
Now, back to the APC aspirants—especially the White Horse.
Kunle Adegoke, SAN (popularly known as K-Rad) is an unexpected contender. For nearly two decades, he has served as the APC’s workhorse lawyer, handling major cases for APC governors in the state and for the two APC presidents—Muhammadu Buhari and the incumbent Bola Tinubu. These included high-stakes election petition cases and the landmark local government autonomy case, fought to the Appeal Court.
His victories, especially for APC local government chairmen reinstated by the Appeal Court, have earned him deep respect in political circles. Yet this, arguably, is the least of the qualities that could make him a good governor.
KRAD has remained free of political scandal, having always operated behind the scenes as a legal tactician. This could prove advantageous when decision time comes. More importantly, he is the only aspirant with a publicly documented, detailed plan for the state—first published in 2018 when he contested the primaries. He has been promoting these ideas consistently within party structures, most recently presenting a summary at the Osun State APC Secretariat on August 11, 2025 to a thunderous applause.
His Four-Pronged Economic Revival Plan prioritizes mechanized and expanded agriculture. He proposes starting with large-scale land clearing to increase farmable acreage—something rarely discussed by state governors. This, along with tackling land fragmentation by leasing and consolidating plots from subsistence farmers, could transform Osun’s agricultural output.
Beyond agriculture, Adegoke envisions placing Ile-Ife on a global pedestal befitting its status in Yoruba history, expanding the State’s 64 identified tourist sites, particularly Osun Osogbo and driving industrialization—especially agro-processing—to target the Lagos market using the railway for low-cost transport. His other priorities include healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
In terms of clear policy articulation, Adegoke’s position is unmatched. While other aspirants make broad promises of “youth and women empowerment,” K-Rad offers a concrete blueprint. Whether the APC will choose this White Horse remains to be seen. But rejecting him would require extraordinary justification—if merit and sound planning still matter.
Kolade Ismail, a politician, writes from Ode-Omu in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State