The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a harsh critique of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration, accusing him of widespread failures across key sectors since taking office two years ago. The party also dismissed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent praise of Adeleke’s performance, calling it unsubstantiated and insincere.
At a press conference in Osogbo on Thursday, APC Director of Media and Publicity Kola Olabisi presented the party’s midterm evaluation of Adeleke’s leadership, citing deficiencies in education, agriculture, healthcare, and financial management. Olabisi accused the governor of placing personal interests above the state’s welfare.
Olabisi described Adeleke’s record in education as a “disaster,” highlighting the dismissal of 1,500 teachers hired by the previous administration without replacements. He also pointed to severe staffing shortages in public schools and high tuition fees, particularly at the newly established University of Ilesa. According to Olabisi, law students at UNILESA are charged N1.5 million per session, while nursing students pay N1.2 million, far higher than the N300,000 to N500,000 charged at Osun State University for the same courses.
“On education, Adeleke’s government has proven to be an irredeemable failure,” Olabisi said. “From sacking 1,500 teachers without replacement to imposing extortionate fees in public schools, it is clear the government does not have the best interests of the people at heart.”
Olabisi also criticized the governor’s handling of healthcare, claiming that funds were being wasted on cosmetic renovations of health facilities instead of addressing the state’s dire healthcare needs. He said that the government continued to invest in superficial upgrades to facilities previously revitalized by the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, rather than rehabilitating clinics and health centers that were in urgent need of attention.
The APC spokesperson further accused Adeleke of neglecting agriculture and failing to support farmers, exacerbating food security challenges in the state.
In terms of financial management, Olabisi pointed to an alleged increase in the 2023 budget for the Office of the Governor, which rose from N6 billion to N16 billion, with actual spending reported to have reached N19 billion. “Despite substantial allocations from the Federation Account, the government prioritizes personal welfare over the pressing needs of the state,” Olabisi said.
The APC also took issue with Obasanjo’s recent praise of Adeleke during the inauguration of the Old Garage-Oke Fia-Lameco dual carriageway in Osogbo. “Obasanjo once said the Port Harcourt refinery wouldn’t work, but now it’s operational. Whatever he said about Adeleke’s performance, he likely meant the opposite,” Olabisi quipped.
The APC’s scathing assessment of Adeleke’s governance sets the stage for an intensifying political showdown as the governor approaches the midpoint of his term.