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“Instead, the administration continues to power them with fuel-guzzling generators—an outdated, expensive and environmentally harmful arrangement funded from the public purse.”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

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by some members of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and suspected supporters of the Park Management System (PMS) to destroy and deface the campaign billboards and posters of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  governorship candidate in parts of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The campaign organisation, in a statement on Friday, alleged that a meeting was held earlier in the day around the Gbagi area of Ibadan, where plans to mobilise people to vandalise Alli’s campaign materials were allegedly discussed.

The statement, signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign organisation, Bisi Oladele, named two individuals, identified as Hollified, also known as King of Boys, and Akin Owo, as allegedly being involved in the meeting.

The organisation further alleged that Egbeda, Ibadan North-East, Lagelu and Akinyele local government areas had been identified as major targets because of the number of Alli’s campaign billboards and posters in the areas.

“Our intelligence revealed that Egbeda, Ibadan North-East, Lagelu and Akinyele local government areas of Ibadan, where the APC gubernatorial candidate enjoys high domination of billboards and posters due to massive acceptance and love by the people, have been marked as primary targets,” the statement said.

The campaign organisation claimed that mobilisation was already underway for the alleged operation, which it said was planned for the early hours of Saturday.

It urged the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services in the state and other security agencies to investigate the allegation and take preventive measures to protect lives and property.

“We call on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Director of Department of State Services (DSS) in Oyo State and other security agencies to act fast, investigate this plot and ensure protection of lives and property, including campaign materials which are legally deployed,” it said.

The organisation also appealed to members and supporters of the APC to remain calm and avoid retaliation, stressing that no one should take the law into their own hands.

“We advise all APC members and supporters across the state to remain calm, law-abiding and resist provocation by miscreants who are in a desperate mood,” the statement added.

The campaign organisation accused its political opponents of attempting to use the alleged vandalism to create tension ahead of the 2027 elections.

It also called on Governor Seyi Makinde, whom it described as the chief security officer of the state, to caution his supporters against actions capable of disrupting peace in the state.

However, the allegations contained in the statement had not been independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

The organisation said the APC remained committed to issue-based campaigns and urged political parties and their supporters to focus on issues before the people of Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections.

Former Deputy National Chairman South of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, has  called on residents of Oyo South Senatorial District to support the All Progressives Congress (APC)  candidate for the district, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, citing his outstanding legislative record and interventions across the district.

Arapaja made the call on Tuesday at a political engagement organised by the United Like-Minds Forum at the David Family International Christian Centre, Felele, Ibadan.
‎
‎The former deputy governor said the lawmaker’s interventions in legislative activities , infrastructure, education, water,  healthcare, empowerment and other areas in his constituency  demonstrated his commitment to improving the welfare of his people. He urged voters in Oyo South to consider Oseni’s record of service as they make their choice at the poll.
‎
‎Arapaja, who recently defected from the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to the APC, said Oseni’s interventions in his Ido/Ibarapa East Federal Constituency provided evidence of what he described as his commitment to the welfare of his constituents.

He specifically mentioned the lawmaker’s empowerment initiatives, including the distribution of N1m each to 100 youths Entrepreneurs as well as the provision of transformers, water, bridges  to communities across the federal constituency, saying the interventions had touched the lives of ordinary residents.
‎
‎“Hon. Remi Oseni’s performance demonstrates what is possible when elected representatives make the welfare of their constituents a priority. If he can do this as a House of Representatives member, he will do even more as a Senator,” Arapaja said.
‎
‎Arapaja urged the people of Oyo South to support Oseni’s bid to represent the district at the Senate, expressing confidence that his experience in the House and understanding of grassroots issues would be useful in the upper chamber.
‎
He also declared support for the APC governorship candidate in the state, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, whom he described as an experienced grassroots politician with an understanding of the political and developmental needs of Oyo State.
‎
Arapaja further called on Oyo residents to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, citing ongoing federal infrastructure interventions in the state, particularly road projects being implemented and repairs through the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) whose House committee is chaired by Oseni.
‎
‎The former deputy governor  revisited the political discussions that preceded the 2023 governorship election, alleging that an understanding reached with sections of the Muslim community over the succession to Governor Seyi Makinde had not been honoured. He subsequently warned against what he described as an attempt to establish political dominance by an individual or group.
‎
‎“We all kicked against godfatherism in Oyo State. We cannot now allow anyone to turn himself into an emperor in Oyo State. The people must remain the ultimate owners of the state. Oyo State belongs to all of us, not to one man,” Arapaja said.

‎Responding, Oseni thanked the political leaders and supporters for their confidence in his senatorial ambition and pledged that, if elected, he would remain committed to people-centred representation. He said he would build on his existing interventions and ensure that the interests and welfare of the people of Oyo South remained central to his legislative responsibilities.
‎
‎The host of the programme, Pastor Ayodele Eleko, appreciated the political leaders, religious leaders and supporters who attended the engagement and urged APC members to remain united and committed ahead of the 2027 elections.