By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has criticised the recently unveiled economic blueprint of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, describing it as outdated, regressive, and capable of reversing the economic gains recorded by his administration.
In a statement on Sunday in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the Governor said a thorough review of the Oyebamiji blueprint revealed what he termed “old-school thinking, capital-flight orientation, and a dangerous attempt to return Osun State to an era of economic stagnation and mass impoverishment.”
According to the statement, the APC candidate’s proposals are at variance with modern socio-economic realities and sharply contradict the progressive reforms currently being implemented by the Adeleke administration.
“By his own admission, Mr Oyebamiji seeks to return Osun to the old era of capital flight to Lagos and a suppressive tax regime—policies that previously entrenched poverty among our people,” the Governor stated.
Governor Adeleke outlined the pillars of his administration’s economic blueprint, describing it as people-centred in conception and people-focused in implementation.
He said the strategy prioritises local content development, grassroots empowerment, artisan and cooperative financing, infrastructure expansion, tax harmonisation with reduced rates, and an integrated ease-of-doing-business framework.
The statement listed key achievements of the administration to include the disbursement of nearly ₦4 billion in artisan and cooperative financing, strict enforcement of local content policies in procurement and employment, revitalisation of the Osun Digital Economy Hub, and improved Internally Generated Revenue through tax digitisation and harmonisation.
Other milestones highlighted include the revival of Osun Free Trade Zones, sustainable debt management resulting in reduced debt stock, renewed agro-mechanisation and cocoa revolution, strengthened partnership with the Osun State Chamber of Commerce, and expanded public-private partnerships to attract investment.
Governor Adeleke further faulted the Oyebamiji blueprint for lacking originality, depth, and a proper grasp of contemporary economic dynamics, alleging that it merely repackaged policies already being executed by the current government.
“The AMBO plan is a recipe for economic retrogression. It seeks to abandon vital local content policies, weaken Osun’s internal economy, and reverse the principle of Osun resources serving Osun people,” the statement added.
On the power sector, the Governor noted that his administration has enacted the Osun State Electricity Law to regulate power generation, transmission, and distribution, with implementation already underway.
He also emphasised Osun’s positioning as an emerging digital economy hub through the enactment of ICT and digital-economy-driven legislation.
The statement criticised the APC candidate’s proposal for a Lagos–Osun economic corridor, describing it as a disguised attempt to undermine Osun’s local content policy and agro-industrialisation drive under the guise of regional collaboration.
Addressing the proposed blue economy strategy, Governor Adeleke questioned Oyebamiji’s record as former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), citing unresolved safety challenges and the absence of a modern inland waterways transport system during his tenure.
He contrasted this with developments under his administration, including the revival of the Owala Lake Beach Resort under a public-private partnership arrangement after decades of neglect, as well as plans to revitalise other inland water bodies across the state.
The statement concluded with a firm declaration that Osun State has moved beyond the era of economic exploitation and stagnation.
“Osun can never go back. The state has gone too far on the path of economic liberation, prosperity, and sustainability to embrace retrogressive ideas masquerading as policy alternatives,” the statement declared.
