The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate in the Osun State governorship election, Najeem Salaam, has expressed confidence in defeating the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, at the polls.
Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, said he considered Adeleke and Oyebamiji his political juniors, insisting that he had the experience and political capacity to defeat them in a free and fair election.
He made the remarks while responding to questions during an interview on a popular programme on Monday, as the state prepares for the August 15 governorship election.
“Politically speaking, they are my juniors in politics. Forget the position or the party they are into, we know people that can really play the game and they themselves know the senior when it comes to the real game of politics,” he said.
He added that with a “clean, perfect, level playing ground”, there was no way his opponents could defeat him.
“If we have a clean, perfect, level playing ground, there is no way they can beat me. I can beat my chest to that and I’m telling you,” Salaam said.
He expressed confidence that the outcome of the election would vindicate his position, saying, “This Saturday, we will see the result of the election.”
Addressing concerns about his political association with former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is also associated with the ADC, Salaam said his political strength was not dependent on the former governor.
He said he had been moving across the state, meeting local government officials and traditional rulers, and building support before Aregbesola joined the campaign.
“Just because I know that people are very myopic in their thinking, moving around the state with the LGs and the traditional rulers, I have been doing it all by myself without Rauf Aregbesola, to let people know my worth, that I know what I want and what I want to do in government,” he said.
According to Salaam, Aregbesola joined his campaign only recently, adding that he had built his own political profile and experience over several years.
He said his academic and political background had equipped him for the responsibilities of governing the state, noting that he studied political science up to the PhD level and had been involved in politics from the grassroots.
“I studied political science at the university level, up to the PhD. I know what it means, and I have been in politics. I started from the grassroots as a supervisory councillor in the local government, and also in the House of Assembly. Another time, I was there as Speaker of the House of Assembly, so I know the job,” he said.
Salaam also rejected the suggestion that his membership of the same political party as Aregbesola meant he would simply follow the former governor’s direction.
“Yes, because I belong to the same party that Rauf is does not make me a dullard. It does not mean I shouldn’t do things in my own way. Of course, whoever knows Rauf should know that he allows people to do things in their own way; he is not a dictator,” he said.
The ADC candidate also outlined some of his priorities if elected governor, promising to improve the welfare and living conditions of residents.
He pledged to improve infrastructure, create jobs and economic opportunities, support women and provide assistance for senior citizens and vulnerable families.
“I will not fail the people of Osun if I am elected. This is a government that the people will not forget. I will improve the lives of the people, welfare, infrastructure, jobs and opportunities will be created. Women will be supported, our senior citizens and vulnerable families will be taken care of too,” he said.