2025 Mar 15, 01:12
Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, revealed that he would have pursued a career in music rather than politics if his father had not discouraged him. Adeleke, who is commonly referred to as the 'Dancing Governor' due to his lively dance moves in public, became renowned for his dances that went viral on social media platforms. These dances became a topic of discussion during his campaign for governorship, with some opponents suggesting that his disposition made him unfit for the demanding task of governance, while supporters argued that his accessibility and social inclusiveness were demonstrated through his dancing. Speaking during an interview on ARISE TV, the politician, who is now 63 years old, shared that his interest in music dates back to his childhood
Adeleke recalled, "I was actually supposed to pursue a career in music right away, but my father, during our upbringing in the sixties, did not approve of it. They did not believe that one should go into music; rather, they wanted us to focus on education. So he discouraged me. However, I am aware that I possess that talent, which I passed on to my nephew and my son." Even now, Adeleke admits that whenever music is played, he can't resist the urge to start moving and dancing spontaneously
He also recounted an experience during his time in America, where he participated in a dancing competition during his school's anniversary celebration. His outstanding performance in the competition earned him the nickname 'Jackson' because the president of the university attempted to pronounce his name, Ademola Adeleke, but ended up calling him Jackson—a coincidence that was influenced by the reigning pop star Michael Jackson at that time. So, if not for his father's discouragement and his subsequent entry into politics, it seems that Governor Adeleke's path may have led him down the road of music stardom.