The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has criticized Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration, labeling it as “wasteful” and claiming that the governor’s achievements do not justify the significant federal allocation received by the state.
Speaking in Osogbo on Thursday during the governor’s second anniversary celebration, APC spokesperson Kola Olabisi alleged that the state government received N385 billion from January 2023 to September 2024 but has little to show for it in terms of impactful projects.
Olabisi highlighted discrepancies in revenue utilization: “From January 2023 to September 2024, Osun State received N385 billion from federal allocation, grants, and IGR, including N4.3 billion UBEC and N1.3 billion TETFUND grants to improve education infrastructure. These figures exclude federation allocation, which has doubled since subsidy removal.
“Despite the state’s financial windfall, Governor Adeleke has neglected key economic sectors while prioritizing allocations to his office, which recorded a 170% performance increase.”
He noted that in 2022, the state received N73 billion in federal allocation before debt deductions, compared to N153 billion as of September 2024, which exceeds the N99 billion initially projected for the year.
In contrast, a coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has commended Governor Adeleke for what it described as credible and excellent service delivery.
Coalition spokesperson, Comrade Declan Ihekaire, shared findings from their week-long assessment of Osun State, which included visits to major 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 also compared the current administration favorably with the previous one:
Based on our independent evaluation, Governor Adeleke’s achievements in two years surpass those of his predecessor, deserving commendation for his developmental strides.”
While opinions remain divided, the contrasting assessments underscore the political and social debate surrounding Governor Adeleke’s leadership and the administration’s fiscal responsibility.
(Vanguard)