The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly rejected the recent praise heaped upon Governor Ademola Adeleke by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, calling the endorsement disingenuous.
During a press briefing held in Osogbo on Thursday, Kola Olabisi, the APC’s Director of Media and Publicity, accused the governor of engaging in extra-budgetary spending and mismanaging state resources, further claiming that the administration’s performance has been underwhelming and marked by a series of failed promises.
The APC’s remarks were directed at Obasanjo’s high praise for Adeleke’s midterm performance, especially in relation to the inauguration of the Old Garage-Oke Fia-Lameco Osogbo dual carriageway. In his speech at the event, Obasanjo had lauded the governor for his accomplishments and the infrastructural developments initiated under his leadership. However, Olabisi dismissed this praise as insincere, drawing a comparison to Obasanjo’s past remarks on the viability of the Port Harcourt refinery, which he once claimed would not work but is now operational. “Obasanjo once claimed the Port Harcourt refinery wouldn’t work, but it is now operational. Whatever he said about Adeleke’s performance, he likely meant the opposite,” Olabisi remarked, suggesting that the former president’s support was not rooted in a true reflection of the governor’s achievements.
Olabisi and the APC also pointed to several critical areas where they believed Adeleke’s government had failed, specifically in the sectors of education, agriculture, health, and fiscal management. One of the primary concerns raised by the APC was the governor’s handling of the education sector. Olabisi accused the Adeleke administration of failing in its duty to provide adequate education, pointing to the controversial dismissal of 1,500 teachers who were employed by the previous administration under former Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Despite the large-scale sackings, the APC argued that the governor had not made efforts to replace these teachers, leaving schools under-staffed and children deprived of quality education. Olabisi stated, “On education, Adeleke’s government has proven to be an irredeemable failure. From the sack of 1,500 teachers employed by his predecessor without replacement, to exorbitant fees in public schools, it is clear that the government does not have the people’s best interests at heart.”
The APC also took issue with what it perceived as an unsatisfactory response to the shortage of qualified teachers in the state. In certain regions, such as Atakumosa East, Olabisi pointed out that there was only one teacher for the subject of Physics. This, he argued, was indicative of a broader failure in the government’s educational strategy, especially considering that education is often seen as the cornerstone for socioeconomic development. The APC’s spokesperson underscored that this shortage of teachers, especially in crucial subjects, was depriving students of a proper education and holding back the state’s future.
Further criticizing the administration, Olabisi turned his attention to the state’s handling of agriculture and food security. He lamented that the administration had done little to improve these areas, which are vital to the livelihood of many Osun residents. Despite the government’s claims of addressing these issues, the APC argued that little substantive progress had been made in supporting farmers or ensuring food security within the state. He called out the government for what he described as its lackluster approach to agriculture, which he said had left the state’s farmers vulnerable and underserved.
In terms of healthcare, the APC claimed that the Adeleke administration had failed to address the deteriorating state of the healthcare system. Olabisi criticized the government for focusing on superficial improvements, such as repainting and decorating health facilities that had already been revitalized under the previous administration of Oyetola. He argued that the government should instead have prioritized the rehabilitation of health centers that were in dire need of attention, particularly in rural areas. He stated, “The government continues to pour huge funds into painting and decorating health facilities previously revitalized by the Oyetola government. Meanwhile, the state’s health sector remains in disrepair, and the people continue to suffer.”
Additionally, the APC raised concerns over the newly established University of Ilesa, accusing the state government of imposing what they saw as exorbitant tuition fees on students. Olabisi revealed that law students were being charged N1.5 million per session, while nursing students were required to pay N1.2 million. He compared this with the much lower fees at Osun State University, where students pay between N300,000 and N500,000 for similar courses. “Why should UNILESA students pay such a high fee if the government truly and adequately funds the institution?” Olabisi questioned, suggesting that the state’s education policy was unfairly burdening students with high costs while failing to deliver on its promises.
The APC’s criticisms of Adeleke’s government are part of a broader discontent that seems to be building in Osun State. The party’s allegations that the government has failed across key sectors suggest that they believe the governor’s midterm achievements, lauded by Obasanjo, do not reflect the true state of affairs in the state. The APC’s continued attack on Adeleke’s leadership presents a clear challenge to his administration, with the opposition party accusing him of mismanaging resources and failing to deliver on his promises to the people of Osun State.
