The rift between the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state government escalated on Monday as both parties offered contrasting perspectives on the achievements of Governor Ademola Adeleke during his first year in office.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Osun APC chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, detailed what he perceived as infractions committed by Governor Adeleke since assuming office, delivering a critical assessment of his tenure.
Contrarily, during a media address marking the first anniversary of the Adeleke administration, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, presented a list of accomplishments across various sectors. Alimi contended that Governor Adeleke had surpassed the first-year achievements of his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola.
However, the APC chairman criticized Adeleke, stating, “Adeleke has failed to honor his campaign promises of clearing a backlog of salaries of government workers within 100 days in office. He lacks accountability in the management of state resources, awarded revenue collection contracts to friends and cronies, and failed to block leakages. Additionally, there is a failure to account for over N130bn revenue accrued to the state in the last 12 months and mismanagement of N9bn Federal Government palliative fund.”
Responding to the allegations, Commissioner Alimi, speaking at the Government Secretariat in Abere, refuted the claims made by the APC. He emphasized that the only project inaugurated by Governor Oyetola on his first anniversary was a health center funded with a $20 million grant from the Federal Government. Alimi asserted that Adeleke had exceeded expectations and accused the APC of being mischievous in their criticisms.
“The APC knows that once those projects are done, it will be the end of their political move. If we could go ahead to have two flyovers in Osogbo, one in Ife, Ikirun, and Ede, and we are able to dualize roads in Ilesa, Ikirun, and other places, they know that is their end politically,” Alimi declared. “So, they are on their knees praying that we will fail. They have been attacking us since we launched our infrastructure plan.”