Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has defended his signature dancing style, boldly telling critics to “kiss my a**” while recounting how media mogul Dele Momodu once distanced himself after his rise to political office.

Adeleke, famously dubbed the “Dancing Governor,” made the remark while speaking at the launch of the Dele Momodu Leadership Centre in Ibadan on Tuesday.

The event is part of the celebration for Dele Momodu’s 65th birthday, which falls on Friday.

“Sanwo-Olu is dancing, Makinde is dancing, even baba Tinubu is dancing,” Adeleke said, gesturing playfully.

“So when they said a governor cannot dance, I said kiss my a**!”

He used the occasion to highlight how political status often affects friendships, joking that Momodu began “running away” after he became a senator.

“I kept calling him – ‘Why are you running from me? Is it because I’m a senator?’” he said to laughter from the audience. “I even told him, ‘If you don’t come and see me at the hotel I’m staying, our friendship is over.’”

According to Adeleke, when Momodu eventually visited, he confronted him again.

“Please don’t run away from me,” he recalled saying.

Momodu, in turn, advised him not to change like many others who rise to power.

“I told him, ‘I’m not changing. I love all my old friends,’” Adeleke said, adding that the media mogul has since remained an informal adviser.

“When they cheated me in 2018, he was there for me. He told me, ‘Don’t worry, it’s not your time yet. Next time, you will get it.’”

Adeleke’s comments come just two days after his own birthday celebration and echo recent remarks by his nephew, Grammy-nominated singer Davido, who praised his uncle’s leadership despite public mockery of his dancing.

Speaking on the Culture Knock Out podcast, Davido declared Adeleke the best governor Osun State has ever had.

“They judged him because he likes to dance and have a good time,” Davido said.

“But now they see he’s working. He’s a real example of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’”

Adeleke became Osun State governor in 2022 after defeating then-incumbent Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC).