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The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration of awarding the N99.5 billion Ede Airport project to a firm of interior decorators with no known history of civil engineering projects.
Oyebamiji, who made the allegation in his June 12 address, said major projects of such magnitude, if needed, should be executed by firms with demonstrable expertise and proven track records in delivering critical infrastructure.
But the state governor, in a swift reaction by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said Oyebamiji lacks the credentials to criticise his administration, adding that all the contracts his government awarded followed due process.
Oyebamiji, in the statement, said Osun people deserve quality infrastructure built by competent hands and accused the government of giving “multi-billion-naira road projects to fertiliser distribution suppliers, cyber café operators and other unqualified cronies.
He claimed the administration has not deemed it fit to replace 1,500 teachers and 500 health workers it sacked after their employment by the immediate past governor, Gboyega Oyetola.
“Osun now has a record of the state with the lowest number of teachers in the South-West region, just as the state has been rated as the 2nd worst state with the number of abandoned health centres in the country,” the APC governorship candidate stated.
Oyebamiji further alleged that “it is saddening” that there is “a lack of drugs in our health centres and hospitals,” a development which has “impacted negatively on the public rating of Osun health service delivery.”
The APC candidate further alleged that despite the state receiving close to N1 trillion in revenue since the assumption of office, the Adeleke administration has failed to demonstrate that the welfare of the people remains its foremost priority.
Adeleke, in his reaction, said, “Osun people today appreciate the upgrade of the capital city, hence the overwhelming endorsement of my re-election. Osogbo has changed from what it used to be under the Oyetola/Oyebamiji administration.”
He added that Osun schools and health facilities witnessed coordinated rehabilitation alongside holistic welfare packages for teachers and health workers under his administration.
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“Osun moved from 33rd under Oyetola/Oyebamiji to 7th position in NECO rating for 2024 and 2025. Is that not extraordinary progress?”
The governor noted that “Osun came first in the South West under primary health care access for both 2024 and 2025. A new rating put Osun public healthcare in the fifth position in efficiency and accessibility. Why is Oyebamiji not proud of such accomplishments by our administration?”
Addressing the contract award claims, Adeleke said the competence of contractors handling Osun projects are attested to by the elegant deliveries of Okefia and Lameco bridges and that their qualifications for the job were also validated by the Nigeria Society of Engineers.
He said, “All contracts awarded by the administration followed due process, compliance with procurement laws and due diligence on the financial and technical competence of the bidding companies.”
The governor further blasted Oyebamiji for “violating procurement law in the handling of the $20 million health grant,” and described the Ido-Osun aviation city promised by Oyebamiji as “a hurriedly packaged scam under the Oyetola/Oyebamiji administration.”
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
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