The political divide in Osun State has been sharply highlighted as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) released highly contrasting assessments of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s performance on his third anniversary in office.
The opposition APC vehemently criticized the governor’s record, while the ruling PDP hailed him as a transformative leader who restored people’s trust in government.
Speaking to journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, the Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, alongside a former Commissioner for Information, Sunday Akere, castigated the administration, arguing that despite substantial monthly allocations from the Federation Account, ordinary citizens have yet to feel the benefits of the government’s efforts.
Lawal, whose statement was read by the party’s Director of Media, Kola Olabisi, accused Governor Adeleke of pursuing projects that only attract public attention over crucial sectors such as education, health, agriculture, security, and transportation. He also faulted the governor for focusing largely on “needless and poorly constructed flyovers and substandard roads.”
The APC Chairman claimed that the state is on the brink of collapse due to the governor’s decisions: “The administration has concentrated many development projects in the governor’s hometown, reflecting clear favouritism. Osun State, under Governor Adeleke, has drifted steadily toward systemic failure. Local governments have been effectively shut down for nearly a year, the judiciary is crippled by a prolonged strike, and citizens are left without essential services,” Lawal said.
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He further condemned the over two-month strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), stressing that the disruption to the judiciary is disturbing given its role as “the last hope of the common man.” Lawal concluded his critique with a damning assessment: “The three-year administration of Governor Adeleke has been disastrous for Osun State.”
Conversely, the Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi, offered a glowing defense of the Governor’s tenure, describing Adeleke as “one of the most transformative figures in the history of Osun State and our party,” emphasizing his “legacy of compassion, performance, and people-centred leadership.”
Bisi asserted that Adeleke was a force for good long before taking the highest office: “Long before becoming governor, Senator Adeleke was a pillar of strength within the PDP, mobilising grassroots support, stabilising party structures, and inspiring hope in citizens who had lost trust in government,” he said.
He praised Adeleke’s leadership style, which he said is rooted in empathy, humility, and decisive action—qualities which Bisi claimed have “restored dignity to party faithful, re-energised party structures, and redefined governance standards across the state.”
Highlighting the Governor’s achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, workers’ welfare, and local government reforms, Bisi noted that Adeleke’s “openness, transparency, and commitment to the common good have set a benchmark for future leaders.”
Concluding his commendation, Bisi said: “Governor Adeleke is more than a public office holder; he is a movement. His leadership restored the PDP’s identity as a party of justice, fairness, and development, leaving a profound imprint on Osun’s political consciousness.”
Governor Adeleke was sworn in on Sunday, November 27, 2022, following his victory in the July 16, 2022, Osun governorship election.