Adeleke: My elder brother is my father figure, adviser

By Tolu Temidire

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has described his elder brother, Adedeji Adeleke, father of Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido, as a father figure and trusted adviser whose counsel has significantly influenced his decisions.

Adeleke stated this during an interview on Sunday Politics, where he spoke about his family background, the influence of his siblings and the strong bond among members of the Adeleke family.

The governor said he still deeply misses his late father, but added that seeing his elder brother often reminds him of him.

“I miss my dad big time. But when I see him, I see my dad. So, he is like a father figure to me,” Adeleke said.

He explained that he listens to his elder brother because of the wisdom he has acquired over the years, particularly through his experience as a businessman.

“He is a father figure. How much do I listen to him? A lot, because God has really blessed him with wisdom,” the governor said.

Adeleke recalled that when they were involved in business together, his brother would often advise him against ventures he considered unviable, but said he initially ignored some of the advice.

“I would say, ‘Can we do this business?’ He would say, ‘Let me take a look at it.’ And he would tell me, ‘This one is not going to work.’ I would go ahead and do it, and it would not work,” he recalled.

According to him, repeated experiences eventually made him realise the value of his brother’s counsel.

“I was a bit stubborn. So, after some time, I said, ‘Wait a minute. I think I need to listen to my big brother,’” he said.

The governor said he subsequently began studying his brother’s business acumen and came to regard him as a formal adviser.

“I started studying him. And as I got older, I would call him my adviser with a portfolio,” he added.

Adeleke also spoke warmly about his other siblings, describing his elder sister as a mother figure who combines affection with discipline.

“She sounds like my mum. She behaves like my mum,” he said.

The governor attributed the close relationship among the Adeleke siblings to the values instilled in them by their parents, particularly the emphasis on sharing and mutual support.

Recalling his childhood, Adeleke said that as the youngest child, he was initially reluctant to share his belongings with his siblings, despite their willingness to share theirs with him.

He said his mother eventually taught him the importance of sharing and giving to others.

“She had to call me and say, ‘That is good. To share. Give and take, give and take,’” he recalled.

Adeleke described his late father as a politician and diplomat who served as a senator during Nigeria’s Second Republic, adding that he was highly educated, well-travelled and civilised.

The governor said the combination of his parents’ influence helped create the strong bond among the siblings, which, according to him, remains evident today.

On claims by opposition figures that the political influence of the Adeleke family amounts to a family dynasty, the governor rejected the description, arguing that the perception was created by the people themselves.

“I’m not the one that made it. It’s the people that watch us. They watch us, not me. This is democracy. Can we force them?” he said.

Adeleke said the family’s closeness had earned it admiration from many people, stressing that his siblings had also played a significant role in his political journey and electoral victories.

Asked how much impact his siblings had on his electoral success, the governor responded: “A big time. A lot of impact.”