The Oyo State Government has responded to criticisms by the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation over the use of diesel-powered generators for streetlights and the renovation of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan.
The response followed a statement by the Alli campaign organisation on Saturday, in which it questioned Governor Seyi Makinde’s engineering credentials over the streetlight project and alleged that the renovated Lekan Salami Stadium had failed to secure CAF approval to host a continental fixture. �
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In a statement signed by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the Oyo State Government described the criticism as “desperation, distortion and a frantic struggle for relevance.”
Olanrewaju said the Makinde administration would not apologise for keeping the state illuminated and secure, arguing that the use of generators was due to inadequate electricity supply from the national grid.
He attributed the electricity challenge to what he described as the failure of the APC-led Federal Government to provide regular power supply, noting that Senator Alli is a member of the party.
The governor’s aide also said the state government had built a 5MW solar plant which, according to him, was being upgraded to 12MW.
On the Lekan Salami Stadium, Olanrewaju said the renovation had enabled Ibadan to host international football matches, citing the Falconets’ fixture against Senegal in February 2026.
He said the temporary pause in 3SC’s international matches at the facility was because the government was undertaking further upgrades to meet evolving international standards.
This contrasts with the position of the Alli campaign organisation, which alleged that the stadium had failed to obtain CAF approval for Shooting Stars to host a continental fixture and questioned the outcome of the renovation.
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The governor’s aide further defended Makinde’s professional credentials, describing him as a distinguished engineer with decades of practical experience.
Olanrewaju said the Nigerian Society of Engineers had conferred its Fellowship on Makinde, presenting this as evidence of the governor’s professional standing.
He also addressed the recent exchange between Makinde and Alli, saying the senator’s criticism was linked to the governor’s description of Alli as a “jejune lawyer.”
Olanrewaju maintained that the administration was focused on development rather than political disputes, while accusing the Alli campaign organisation of relying on what he described as “distortion and desperation.”
The Alli campaign organisation had, in its earlier statement, accused the Makinde administration of waste, poor planning and misplaced priorities over the streetlight project and stadium renovation. It also claimed that about N250 billion had been spent on diesel-powered generators for streetlights and that more than N5 billion was committed to the stadium renovation. Those figures and the campaign organisation’s other criticisms were presented as allegations by the group.
Olanrewaju said the Oyo State Government would continue with its development agenda despite criticism from political opponents.
“The people of Oyo State deserve progress, not propaganda, and that is exactly what this administration will continue to deliver,” he said.
