Yhe All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has condemned the directive issued by officials of the state government mandating civil servants to vacate their official duties and gather at the State Secretariat, Abere, to “give a rousing welcome” to Governor Ademola Adeleke.
In a statement signed by the party’s spokesman, Kola Olabisi, the APC described the order as shameful, undemocratic, and an abuse of public office. The party alleged that the governor is engaging in political manipulation and using state machinery to stage-manage popularity.
It said, “The Adeleke administration, since the rejection of its desperate attempt to associate with the APC in July, has been struggling to convince outsiders that the governor remains popular within Osun State.
“Rather than addressing governance issues, the administration has intensified its propaganda machinery —spinning falsehoods, staging media stunts, and deploying political puppets to launder its image.”
According to the APC, the latest example of this deception is a directive from the Office of the Head of Service requiring civil servants, teachers, members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and organized labour unions to attend a welcome reception for the governor, who recently returned from a six-week stay in the United States.
“This is not the first of such spectacles,” the statement continued.
It said, “Only a week ago, members of the PDP reluctantly hosted a similar event. So the question remains: has Governor Adeleke even resumed official duties since his return?
“Forcing hardworking civil servants to abandon their responsibilities just to cheer a politician is not only unprofessional but also an insult to the dignity of Osun workers,” the party said.
The APC maintained that a government delivering real impact wouldn’t have to orchestrate adulation. “Roads, hospitals, schools, and workers’ welfare speak louder than choreographed praise-singing.”
The statement further criticized the administration for ignoring urgent issues, such as the fate of 1,500 teachers sacked upon Adeleke’s assumption of office, and the pending recruitment of over 32,000 applicants who participated in a government-led teacher recruitment exercise nearly two years ago.
“It is unfair and irresponsible to keep unemployed youths in the dark after collecting application fees. This silence creates the impression of a government that may have scammed its people,” the APC warned.
The party also referenced a recently published National Assessment Report which ranked Osun 30th out of 36 states in Nigeria’s 2024 performance metrics, placing it at the bottom of the Southwest region.
“Rather than address this damning report with urgency and resolve, the state government continues to hide behind staged events and social media fanfare,” the APC stated. “Governor Adeleke cannot dance his way out of failure. He cannot manufacture popularity through forced applause.”
The APC called on the people of Osun to reject this “shameful spectacle” and demand serious, accountable governance.
“Osun workers are not slaves. They are not props for any politician’s ego. The people of Osun are watching. Enough is enough.”
