Oyo APC to Makinde: Diesel-powered streetlight, CAF-rejected stadium exposes your failure as engineer

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The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation at the weekend accused Governor Seyi Makinde of allegedly wasting over N250billion to power streetlights in Oyo state with diesel-sucking generators.

In a statement by the campaign organisation, through its director of media and publicity Bisi Oladele in reaction to Governor Makinde’s comment on Friday where he described Sharafadeen Alli as a lawyer who has never entered the courtroom, the organisation also
questioned the engineering credential of the incumbent governor.

The campaign group wondered why the governor “claimed to have studied electrical engineering”, yet the diesel-powered streetlights in Ibadan, the state capital and the CAF-rejection of Lekan Salami stadium have exposed his alleged failure as an engineer

“It is a tragic irony that Governor Makinde, who studied electrical engineering, cannot devise a sustainable electricity solution for the streetlights installed and maintained with about N400 billion of state funds. Instead, the administration continues to power them with fuel-guzzling generators, an outdated, expensive and environmentally harmful arrangement funded from the public purse”, it said.

The campaign organisation added, “At a time when modern cities are embracing solar-powered and energy-efficient streetlighting systems, Oyo state remains trapped in the age of diesel generators under the supervision of an electrical engineer. It is more embarrassingly illogical given the fact that his predecessor undertook the same project adopting solar system.

“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 used to provide street lighting by his predecessor instead of repairing and upgrading them? 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 stressed, “This raises serious questions about the governor’s competence, priorities and commitment to prudent management of taxpayers’ money. Should we judge Governor Makinde’s claim as an electrical engineer by his streetlight project, the answer is obvious to all”.

It maintained, “Equally disturbing is the reported failure of the renovated Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan to secure CAF approval for Shooting Stars Sports Club to host a continental fixture”, saying, “After committing over N5 billions to the stadium renovation project, followed by great fanfare in 2021, the facility could not satisfy the requirements for the very international matches expected of a major sporting arena.

“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?

“The situation represents more than an administrative lapse. It is an embarrassment to Shooting Stars, their supporters and the entire people of Oyo State, and a disgrace to the Makinde-led administration. A stadium renovation that cannot meet the standards required for continental football is another monument to the Makinde administration’s preference for publicity over quality and durable results.

“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.”