Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has said Senator Ademola Adeleke’s emergence as his brother’s successor should serve as an eye-opener to the All Progressives Congress.
Having lost the ruling party’s ticket, Adeleke had defected from the All Progressives Congress to run as the Peoples Democratic Party flagbearer in last weekend’s bye election.
The bye election was meant to fill the void left by his elder brother, Isiaka Adeleke who died recently.
Saraki who is also a member of the ruling party, said the party must learn how to respect the people’s will at all times.
Saraki expressed sadness over Adeleke’s emergence as an opposition lawmaker.
The Senate President made this known on his Facebook page shortly after swearing-in Adeleke as the Senator representing Osun-West.
Saraki said though he is happy with Adeleke’s victory, he, however, was sad that he was not coming in as an APC Senator.
Saraki said Adeleke’s defection was caused by a mishandling of pre-election matters in the APC.
“I was filled with emotions today as I swore in the brother of Late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke as Senator representing Osun West. I’m sure that my late friend, his family, good people of Ede and Osun West Senatorial District are delighted that the legacy of ‘Guv’ can continue.
“I am sure my departed colleague will, in his grave, be happy and filled with joy today and always.
“My only sadness is that Senator Ademola Adeleke is not coming in as an APC member. This is the result of mishandling of the pre-election matters by our party.
“I hope Senator Ademola Adeleke will very soon return to his natural fold, the APC, where he rightly belongs.
“I hope this development will serve as an eye opener to our party at all levels that the will of the people must always be respected. We all have a good lesson to learn from this.
“Once again, I congratulate Senator Ademola Adeleke and I hope he will live up to his brother’s expectations and further uplift the legacy established by their late father, Senator Ayoola Adeleke,” Saraki said.
