The Oyo State Government has defended its streetlight and Lekan Salami Sports Complex projects, dismissing criticisms from the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation as misleading and politically motivated.
The government’s response followed a statement by the campaign organisation questioning the use of diesel-powered generators to operate streetlights across parts of the state and raising concerns over the renovation of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan.
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the state government described the criticism as an attempt to distort the achievements of the administration.
Olanrewaju said the government would not apologise for taking measures to keep major parts of the state illuminated and secure, explaining that the generators were being used because of inadequate electricity supply from the national grid.
He linked the power supply challenges to what he described as shortcomings in the national electricity system, noting that Senator Alli is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level.
The governor’s aide also disclosed that the state government had constructed a 5-megawatt solar power plant and was upgrading the facility to generate up to 12MW.
Government Explains Stadium Renovation
The government also rejected claims that the renovation of the Lekan Salami Stadium had failed to meet international requirements.
According to Olanrewaju, the rehabilitation of the facility had already enabled Ibadan to host international football matches, citing the February 2026 fixture involving Nigeria’s Falconets and Senegal as an example.
He explained that the temporary suspension of international matches involving Shooting Stars at the stadium was connected to additional improvement works being carried out to meet evolving international standards.
The statement contradicted the position of the Alli campaign organisation, which had claimed that the stadium had not secured the necessary approval from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for Shooting Stars to host a continental fixture.
Makinde’s Engineering Credentials Defended
Olanrewaju also defended Governor Makinde’s professional background following questions raised by the Alli campaign organisation over his engineering credentials.
He described Makinde as an engineer with decades of practical experience and noted that the governor had been admitted as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
The aide said the recognition reflected Makinde’s standing within the engineering profession.
The response also touched on the recent verbal exchange between Governor Makinde and Senator Alli, saying the senator’s latest criticism followed the governor’s description of him as a “jejune lawyer.”
Olanrewaju maintained that the state government remained focused on infrastructure and other development projects rather than political exchanges.
Alli Campaign’s Allegations
The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation had earlier accused the Makinde administration of waste, poor planning and misplaced priorities in connection with the streetlight and stadium projects.
The group alleged that about N250 billion had been spent on diesel-powered generators for streetlights and that more than N5 billion had been committed to the renovation of the Lekan Salami Stadium.
Those figures, as well as the other criticisms contained in the campaign organisation’s statement, were presented as allegations by the group and were rejected by the state government.
Olanrewaju said the administration would continue implementing 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.
