- Safiu Kehinde
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has engaged in war of words with the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, over Femi Gbajabiamila’s, President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, commendation of the governor.
The APC’s reaction is coming following Gbajabiamila’s visit to the governor yesterday where he commended him for the development of the state.
Adeleke had hosted the former Speaker of the House of Representatives who was invited as guest lecturer at the maiden annual lecture of the University of Osun (UNIOSUN).
Speaking at the governor ‘s office, Gbajabiamila expressed his delight in the infrastructural development he witnessed in the state.
“We had to leave very early at about 5 o’clock to make our way here. The journey took shorter period. I’m delighted about that because it gives me an opportunity to sit with you, to felicitate with you, and see some of the good works that you have done and we commend you. We pray and hope that the Almighty God will continue to be with you in all that you are doing for the people of Osun state.” The Chief of Staff said.
Reacting in statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Olabisi, the Osun APC described Gbajabiamila’s commendation as being borne out of insufficient information.
Olabisi accused the state government of deliberately keeping Gbajabiamila away from critical stakeholders who could have briefed him on the true condition of the state.
Labelling Adeleke a “big and fantastic failure” the Osun APC spokesperson hinted several alleged shortfalls of the governor, including the failure to replace over 1500 teachers, hundreds of health workers, and 20,000 sacked OYES cadets.
“If the stakeholders had been allowed to interact with the Chief of Staff, we are confident the blunt Gbajabiamila would have called Governor Ademola Adeleke what he really is: a big and fantastic failure.”
“Almost three years after Governor Adeleke sacked these workers, he has failed to replace them, thus creating chaos in key economic sectors in the state,” Olabisi stated.
“A popular media outfit in the state, Rave FM, ran unfettered reports and documentaries of how education has become shambles and deteriorating under the propagandist government of Adeleke,” the statement read.
Olabisi further accused Adeleke of spending N55 billion on lifestyle expenses but failed to employ a single teacher in public schools.
“Would it be correct to adjudge a governor who spent N55 billion to eat, drink and maintain his expensive life style, but could not employ a single teacher into the public primary and secondary schools in almost three years, after swindling the job applicants with their hard-earned money in the name of application fees, as doing a ‘phenomenal job’?
“Is it possible for a governor who is doing a ‘phenomenal job’ to shut down all the local government council areas in the state for over three months running over his refusal to have respect for the rule of law in the case of the reinstated APC council chairmen and councillors?” He asked.
The Osun APC spokesperson also accused the governor of defying court’s ruling as he shuts down local government council areas for over three months.
“A governor who brazenly insults the judiciary and cherry-picks the rulings of the court cannot be said to be phenomenal,” Olabisi added.