The Oyo State Government has dismissed the criticism of the administration by the campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, describing it as an attempt to divert attention from what it called the failures of the APC-led Federal Government.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Media to the governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, stated this in a statement issued on Saturday in response to the campaign organisation’s comments on the powering of streetlights across the state and the renovation of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan.
Olanrewaju said the response from the Alli campaign organisation had further demonstrated what he described as the desperation of the APC candidate to avoid addressing issues concerning the performance of his party at the federal level.
He said: “The attention of the Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has been drawn to the tirade of the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation, regarding the powering of streetlights and the renovation of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex.
“The latest rant from the campaign organisation has made it obvious that their politics has descended into desperation, distortion, and a frantic struggle for relevance.”
On the use of generators to power streetlights, the governor’s aide said the state government would not apologise for its efforts to keep major roads and public spaces illuminated.
According to him, the use of generators became necessary because of what he described as the failure of the APC-led Federal Government to provide reliable electricity supply.
“If the national grid were reliable, there would be absolutely no need for diesel-powered generators. Instead of attacking the state government for providing light, Senator Alli should confront his party’s embarrassing failure in the power sector,” he said.
Olanrewaju, however, said the state government was already pursuing alternative energy solutions, noting that the administration had constructed a 5MW solar plant which is being upgraded to 12MW.
He described the initiative as part of the government’s efforts to develop sustainable and independent power sources for the state.
On the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, the media adviser said the renovation had enabled Ibadan to host international football fixtures, citing the February 2026 match between the Falconets and Senegal as evidence of the facility’s improved status.
He explained that the temporary pause in the hosting of international matches involving Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) was due to further upgrades being undertaken to meet evolving international standards.
“That is called progress, and only those threatened by progress will attempt to twist it into a negative,” Olanrewaju said.
He added that the stadium had become a symbol of sporting development, youth empowerment and international relevance in the state.
Reacting to Senator Alli’s criticism of Governor Makinde, Olanrewaju said the APC candidate’s response was linked to the governor’s earlier description of him as a “jejune lawyer.”
The media adviser maintained that the governor’s comment was based on what he described as Alli’s professional record and was not merely an insult.
He contrasted Makinde’s professional background as an engineer with that of Alli, saying the governor had decades of practical experience and had been recognised as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE).
“Governor Seyi Makinde, on the other hand, is a distinguished engineer with decades of hands-on experience across multiple fields.
“His contributions to engineering are so significant that the Nigerian Society of Engineers awarded him its highest honour: Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers,” he said.
Olanrewaju said the Makinde administration remained focused on governance and development rather than political exchanges.
“While some politicians specialise in shouting, this administration specialises in results,” he said, adding that the government would continue to pursue its development agenda irrespective of criticism from political opponents.
He said the people of Oyo State deserved “progress, not propaganda,” insisting that the administration would remain focused on delivering projects and programmes across the state.