Kehinde Fajobi
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration, describing it as “wasteful” and accusing him of failing to justify the substantial federal allocations received by the state.
During the governor’s second anniversary celebration in Osogbo on Thursday, APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi alleged that Osun State received ₦385 billion from January 2023 to September 2024 but has little to show for it.
“From January 2023 to September 2024, Osun State received ₦385 billion from federal allocation, grants, and internally generated revenue (IGR), including ₦4.3 billion UBEC and ₦1.3 billion TETFUND grants to improve education infrastructure.
“These figures exclude federation allocation, which has doubled since subsidy removal,” Olabisi claimed.
He added, “Despite the state’s financial windfall, Governor Adeleke has neglected key economic sectors while prioritising allocations to his office, which recorded a 170% performance increase.”
Olabisi highlighted a significant increase in revenue, stating that in 2022, Osun received ₦73 billion in federal allocation before debt deductions, compared to ₦153 billion by September 2024, surpassing the ₦99 billion projected for the year.
In contrast, a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has lauded Adeleke for what it termed credible and excellent governance.
The coalition’s spokesperson, Comrade Declan Ihekaire, presented findings from a week-long assessment of the state, which included visits to towns like Ife, Ede, Ilesa, Osogbo, and Ifon Osun.
“Our interactions with residents and inspection of government projects revealed significant improvements in infrastructure, human development, and governance under Governor Adeleke.
“Citizens report a people-friendly administration that listens to their needs and critiques, fostering progress,” Ihekaire said.
He further compared Adeleke’s performance favourably to his predecessor’s.
“Based on our independent evaluation, Governor Adeleke’s achievements in two years surpass those of his predecessor, deserving commendation for his developmental strides.”