Meet Davido’s Father, Adedeji Adeleke, the Unofficial Governor of Osun State

Nigerian billionaire Adedeji Adeleke is hardly in the spotlight, but the father of the afrobeat star Davido, is no doubt a money bag, with several ventures to his name. 

The pacific Holders Limited’s chief executive officer also doubles as Adeleke University’s president. Though not involved in politics, he is not far from the mind of people when the dancing senator and now the new governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, comes to mind.

He does not belong to any political party. Still, his role in winning the Osun state governorship position by his brother begs the question, Is the Osun state philanthropist the new jagaban and godfather of the southwestern state of Nigeria.

Is Adedeji Adeleke the new godfather of Osun State?

The concept of godfatherism is a political culture that is not new to the Nigerian political terrain. Although they necessarily do not have to be involved in politics, they have the power and finances to support and invest in political aspirants to win an election.

Since it is an investment, they get the autonomy to pull all the strings once the political goal is attained. This, however, is to the detriment of the people and the country at large.

Though Adedeji Adeleke is the elder brother of the newly elected governor of Osun State, he fills all the boxes of a godfather.

This can be traced to the inception of Ademola Adeleke’s political career. From the senator position to being the first citizen of the state.

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After the announcement of the election result by the state’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Adeleke prostrated out of respect and appreciation for his elder brother’s support. While this is term as family unity and love by some, it raises the question of who is the real governor of the state?

Likewise, out of happiness, the famous Nigerian singer declared his father, the real Jagaban. This is a title for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate. 

Though his father controlled the situation, the question remains if another Jagaban is to rise from Osun State.

The silent billionaire: Adedeji Adeleke

The serial entrepreneur is a vastly learned billionaire with many certificates. In 1976, he attended Western Kentucky University, Kentucky, USA. He earned his Bachelors’s Degree in Finance in 1979. In 1981, he received his MBA and then a PhD in International Business at Pacific Columbia University, California. In 2010, he received a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in Arizona.

After, attaining educational certificates, he returned for his Nigerian National Youth Service Corps Scheme (NYSC). Two years later (9183), he founded Pacific Holdings.

This was initially a Pacific Drilling Company Limited. Years later, it was incorporated from a Limited Liability Company. The company is diversified into freight, real estate and energy sectors. Though widowed in 2003, he has five children: two girls and three boys.

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