Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, has congratulated Nigeria’s Ambassador to Austria, Dr Florence Ajimobi, on her appointment as Nigeria’s Governor on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Ajimobi’s appointment is for the 2026–2028 term, following Nigeria’s election to the 35-member IAEA Board during the agency’s 70th General Conference in Vienna, Austria.

Alli, in a statement on Sunday, described the appointment as a significant diplomatic achievement for Ajimobi and a source of pride for Oyo State and Nigeria.

He said the appointment reflected the confidence placed in Ajimobi’s diplomatic experience and her capacity to represent Nigeria in discussions on the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology.

“This is not only a personal achievement for Ambassador Ajimobi but also a proud moment for Oyo State and Nigeria.

“Her appointment reflects the confidence reposed in her ability to contribute to critical global discussions on nuclear science and technology,” Alli said.

The APC candidate said Nigeria’s membership of the IAEA Board would give the country a stronger platform to participate in global discussions on nuclear governance and advance its interests in the peaceful application of nuclear technology.

According to him, nuclear science has important applications in sectors including healthcare, agriculture, energy, environmental protection and scientific research.

Alli urged Ajimobi to use her experience to promote initiatives that would support the development and responsible application of nuclear science and technology in Nigeria and other developing countries.

He specifically mentioned nuclear medicine, food security and clean energy as areas where greater international cooperation could benefit developing countries.

“Ambassador Ajimobi’s appointment comes at a time when the world is seeking safer, cleaner and more sustainable solutions to its energy and development challenges.

“I am confident that she will bring her expertise, integrity and commitment to the board and make Nigeria proud,” he said.

Alli also commended the Federal Government for supporting Nigeria’s representation on the IAEA Board, saying the development would further strengthen the country’s engagement in international diplomacy.

He wished Ajimobi a successful tenure and urged Oyo State stakeholders to celebrate the appointment as a reflection of the state’s contribution to national and international affairs.

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation on Saturday took a swipe at Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, accusing him of displaying “gross ignorance” of the legal profession over his claim that the former attorney never practised law.

The organisation said the governor’s comment was a major legal blunder and urged him to take a crash course in what it described as “Law 101” before making further pronouncements on the profession.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, Bisi Oladele, stated this in a statement issued on Saturday in response to Makinde’s comment during a reception held to welcome him from his annual leave.

Oladele described the governor’s remark as “laughable,” alleging that Makinde had displayed his ignorance of the legal profession while attempting to discredit Alli ahead of the 2027 political contest.

The organisation said Alli’s legal career dated back to 1987, when he began his National Youth Service Corps programme with A.E. Enumah & Associates in Nnewi, Anambra State.

According to the statement, Alli was retained by the firm after his service before returning to Ibadan and joining R.A. Sarumi & Co., Solicitors, Advocates and Notary Public.

It said Alli remained in legal practice until 1991, when he became the first executive chairman of Ibadan North Local Government.

The statement added that Alli later returned to private practice and established Biodun Alli & Co. in Ibadan in 1994, where he remains the principal partner.

“Contrary to Makinde’s ignorant assertion, Senator Sharafadeen Alli is not a portfolio lawyer. He is a thoroughbred legal practitioner,” the organisation said.

The campaign organisation challenged the governor to verify Alli’s professional record with the Nigerian Bar Association and the Corporate Affairs Commission.

“Makinde could have done a simple check if governance had not been reduced to roadside talk,” it said.
The organisation also took exception to the suggestion that a lawyer’s professional status depends solely on appearing in court.

It said, “Even if Senator Alli had never seen the four walls of a courtroom, what crime would that have been?”
The group further accused Makinde of displaying what it called a “shocking illiteracy” about the scope of legal practice.

It said, “We are happy to school him further for free: Law 101.”

According to the organisation, being called to the Nigerian Bar does not require a lawyer to remain permanently in courtroom advocacy, noting that lawyers also work in government, the legislature, corporate organisations, academia, private chambers and arbitration.

The campaign organisation said Alli had deployed his legal training in various capacities, including as chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Chief of Staff, chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited and now as a senator.

It urged Makinde to “elevate his discourse,” accusing him of reducing political engagement in the state to personal attacks.

“We urge Governor Makinde to elevate his discourse. The Office of the Governor of Oyo State is a sacred place of decorum, not a beer parlour where beer parlour gist is traded,” the statement said.

The organisation also accused the governor of resorting to what it described as “petty, jealousy-driven attacks” rather than engaging Alli on governance and other issues ahead of the 2027 elections.

It maintained that Alli’s professional history was verifiable and urged the governor to check the facts before making further comments about the senator’s legal career.

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has questioned the engineering credentials of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over the use of diesel-powered generators to operate streetlights installed by his administration.

The organisation also faulted the renovation of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, alleging that the facility failed to secure approval from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for Shooting Stars Sports Club to host a continental fixture.

The campaign organisation made the allegations in a statement on Saturday by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, in response to a statement by Makinde on Friday in which the governor described Alli as a lawyer who had never practised in court.

Oladele said it was ironic that Makinde, who studied electrical engineering, had allegedly spent huge sums on streetlight infrastructure without providing what the organisation described as a sustainable power solution for the facilities.

He said, “It is a tragic irony that Governor Makinde, who studied electrical engineering, cannot devise a sustainable electricity solution for the streetlights installed with about N400bn of state funds by his government.

“Instead, the administration continues to power them with fuel-guzzling generators—an outdated, expensive and environmentally harmful arrangement funded from the public purse.”

The organisation argued that the state should have embraced solar-powered and energy-efficient streetlighting systems, particularly because, according to it, similar infrastructure installed by the previous administration had relied on solar power.

It questioned why the solar infrastructure and electric poles allegedly installed by Makinde’s predecessor were removed instead of being repaired or upgraded.

The statement said, “If not for the prime purpose of enriching self, cronies and deliberately wasting Oyo State funds, why will Governor Makinde destroy the solar infrastructures and electric poles installed by his predecessor instead of repairing and upgrading them to higher solar grade?

“To worsen the case, Makinde’s streetlight project has become dysfunctional, as load-shedding has become the only way the project operates.”

The campaign organisation said the situation raised questions about the governor’s priorities and management of public funds, adding that the performance of the streetlight project should be considered in assessing Makinde’s record as an electrical engineer.

The group also took aim at the Lekan Salami Stadium, saying the facility’s reported inability to secure CAF approval for Shooting Stars to host a continental fixture was an indication that the renovation had failed to meet expected standards.

It claimed that more than N5bn was committed to the stadium renovation, which was unveiled amid fanfare in 2021.

The statement queried, “What, then, did Governor Makinde renovate? Who certified the work, and why should Shooting Stars be forced to seek an alternative venue in Abeokuta, Ogun State after Oyo taxpayers had financed the reconstruction of their traditional home ground?”

According to the organisation, the development was an embarrassment to Shooting Stars, its supporters and residents of the state.

It said a stadium renovated at such a cost should be capable of meeting the standards required for continental football.

“From streetlights powered with generators to a refurbished stadium unsuitable for continental football, the evidence points to a government that spends heavily but delivers poorly,” the organisation said.

It urged the state government to prioritise infrastructure that would provide value for money rather than projects it described as being driven by ceremonies, publicity and political messaging.

The statement added, “The people of Oyo State deserve infrastructure that works, projects that provide value for money and a government capable of planning beyond ceremonies, billboards and political propaganda.

“Oyo State must move away from expensive improvisation and cosmetic governance that have become the order of the day under Makinde.

“Public projects must be designed and executed to serve the people—not merely to provide opportunities for political showmanship.”

The campaign organisation further claimed that Makinde’s repeated references to Alli in his public remarks showed that the APC governorship candidate remained a subject of concern to the governor.

It said nothing demonstrated this more than the governor’s alleged tendency to mention Alli whenever he had the opportunity to speak.