From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
APC National Secretary Dr Ajibola Basiru and Governor Ademola Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, exchanged heated words over alleged poor governance in Osun State.
In a Sunday statement, Basiru criticised Adeleke’s administration for rejecting constructive criticism and highlighted a recently inaugurated road’s collapse as a “disgrace”.
Basiru accused the government of hiding behind increased federal allocations—up 300%—while claiming a 40% debt reduction. “Governance is not about trading insults but responding to accountability with facts,” he stated. He questioned Adeleke’s disengagement of 5,000 teachers hired by predecessor Gboyega Oyetola and criticised substandard projects like failing solar panels and nonexistent boreholes.
Rasheed countered, accusing Basiru of spreading fake news. He denied teacher sackings, claiming those disengaged were APC sympathisers irregularly hired before Oyetola’s exit.
“Those disengaged were never staff of the Osun State government,” Rasheed said. He defended Adeleke’s infrastructure, noting ongoing roadwork at the Oke Fia bridge and a three-pronged water sector plan.
Rasheed highlighted the acquisition of 31 tractors, contrasting it with zero purchased from 2015 to 2022, and denied abusive responses, citing Adeleke’s roadwork near Basiru’s Osogbo home.