The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State has accused the All Progressives Congress national secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru of peddling lies to discredit the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration.
Besides, it knocked him for allegedly deliberately twisting facts and using inaccurate data to undermine Adeleke’s achievements since he assumed office.
The PDP, in a statement by its state chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, said, “It is absurd that Basiru — whose record as a commissioner and senator was marked by glaring underperformance — now presents himself as an authority on good governance.
“He should keep his advice, steeped in failure and ignorance, to himself.”
The PDP declared that the Adeleke administration has made a significant progress “in reversing the failures of the previous APC-led government and improving the lives of Osun residents.”
It noted that many of Governor Adeleke’s achievements were once considered impossible under the APC.
PDP said, “It’s ironic that Basiru, whose public service record reeks of failure, now acts like a governance expert.
“If he truly had any useful advice, the issue of half-salary, now being gradually addressed by Governor Adeleke, wouldn’t have existed in the first place.
“His four years in the Senate produced no tangible benefits for the people of Osun Central”.
Refuting Basiru’s claims on federal allocations, Bisi said the figures have been grossly exaggerated.
He said, “Osun’s allocation did not increase by 300% as claimed.
“According to NEITI, the actual increase for 2024 compared to 2023 is about 62%, while The Punch reported a 50% increase across 10 states, including Osun.
“This is hardly substantial when weighed against the 40.9% devaluation of the naira.”
He added that Osun has one of the best-implemented minimum wage structures in Nigeria and that the Adeleke government has paid over N47 billion in pension benefits, surpassing what the APC paid in 12 years.
On education, the PDP dismissed the allegation that Adeleke sacked 5,000 teachers, calling it a baseless political smear.
It said, “First, it was 1,500, now Basiru says 5,000. This inconsistency proves the APC is fabricating numbers to mislead the public.
“The truth is, those affected were never legally employed, they were hired as part of a last-minute plot by the outgoing APC government to create chaos.”
On the Oke-Fia overhead bridge, Bisi described Basiru’s remarks as ignorant and misleading.
He said, “The project has been validated by the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
“For someone whose tenure as Attorney-General saw Osun lose most of its cases, it is laughable to hear him pontificate on engineering standards.”
Highlighting Adeleke’s agricultural strides, Bisi said the governor has procured and distributed tractors to farmers — something the APC failed to do in 12 years.
He also praised Senator Fabiyi Ajagunla, who succeeded Basiru, for donating three additional tractors to Osun Central farmers.
“What did Basiru achieve in agriculture? Absolutely nothing. His only visible project remains dysfunctional solar streetlights, which earned him the nickname ‘Senator Solar.’ Even those lights barely function today,” Bisi remarked.
He asserted that Governor Adeleke does not need advice from someone with Basiru’s track record.
His words,“Adeleke is focused on delivering real results for the people, not empty promises or political distractions.
“The people of Osun are witnessing true governance, unlike the deceit and self-enrichment that characterized the APC era.”
