Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, and Sharafadeen Alli, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, have exchanged criticisms over their professional credentials and public service records ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Makinde, who is seeking the presidency on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), questioned Alli’s experience as a lawyer. Alli is the senator representing Oyo south.
Alli’s campaign organisation hit back by questioning Makinde’s record as an engineer, citing the state’s streetlight project, which it alleged is powered by generators, and the renovation of Lekan Salami Stadium, which it said does not meet international standards.
Makinde spoke on Friday while defending his administration’s record and the qualifications of members of his cabinet.
“You can see a team standing in front of you. I am an engineer, a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers,” he said.
“The acting governor is a lawyer and former attorney-general of the state. The SSG is a professor of economics, while the head of service is a PhD holder. We brought our first eleven to serve Oyo state.”
Follow us for breaking news:
👉 JOIN WHATSAPP CHANNELTaking a swipe at the APC candidate, the governor said, “If you like, go and vote for someone who claimed to be a lawyer but has never entered a courtroom. Let him mention any case he has handled.”
He also challenged his opponents to point to their achievements and questioned some of the proposals being made ahead of the election.
Makinde added that “governance is a serious business because millions of people’s destinies are involved. This is not a place to come and joke.”
ALLI’S CAMP FIRES BACK
But in a statement issued on Saturday, Bisi Oladele, head of media and publicity for Alli’s campaign organisation, questioned Makinde’s engineering credentials over the state’s streetlight project.
“It is a tragic irony that governor Makinde, who studied electrical engineering, cannot devise a sustainable electricity solution for the streetlights installed with about N400 billion of state funds by his government,” the statement reads.
Oladele alleged that the streetlights were being powered by generators, describing the arrangement as costly and environmentally harmful.
“Instead, the administration continues to power them with fuel-guzzling generators—an outdated, expensive and environmentally harmful arrangement funded from the public purse,” he said.
He also questioned why solar infrastructure and electricity poles installed by the previous administration were allegedly removed instead of being repaired or upgraded.
“If not for the prime purpose of enriching self, cronies and deliberately wasting Oyo State funds, why will Governor Makinde destroy the solar infrastructure and electric poles installed by his predecessor instead of repairing and upgrading them to a higher solar grade?” he asked.
The campaign organisation’s spokesperson further alleged that the streetlight project had become dysfunctional, claiming that “load-shedding has become the only way a few of the project operate”.
“This raises serious questions about the governor’s competence, priorities and commitment to prudent management of taxpayers’ money. Should we judge Governor Makinde’s claim as an electrical engineer by his streetlight project, the answer is obvious to all,” he said.
He also criticised the renovation of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, alleging that the facility failed to secure the Confederation of African Football (CAF) approval to host a continental fixture involving Shooting Stars Sports Club.
“After committing over N5 billion to the stadium renovation project, followed by great fanfare in 2021, the facility could not satisfy the requirements for the very international matches expected of a major sporting arena,” Oladele said.
“What, then, did Governor Makinde renovate? Who certified the work, and why should Shooting Stars be forced to seek an alternative venue in Abeokuta, Ogun State, after Oyo taxpayers had financed the reconstruction of their traditional home ground?
“A stadium renovation that cannot meet the standards required for continental football is another monument to the Makinde administration’s preference for publicity over quality and durable results.
“From streetlights powered with generators to a refurbished stadium unsuitable for continental football, the evidence points to a government that spends heavily but delivers poorly.”
The campaign organisation’s spokesperson added that nothing “buttresses” the fact that Alli has been “living rent-free in Makinde’s mind” than the governor’s use of speaking opportunities to mention the APC governorship candidate.
WARNING: If You Are Not 18+, Don’t Click The Link Below 👇🫣
Did you want to monetize your website, join MONETAG or ADSKEEPER and start earning
Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it.
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.
Never Miss A Single News Or Gist, Kindly Join Us On WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vad8g81Eawdsio6INn3B
Telegram Channel:
https://t.me/gistsmateNG