The Oyo State Government has defended its streetlight and Lekan Salami Stadium projects, dismissing criticisms from the campaign organisation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Senator Teslim Folarin Alli.
The government said the criticism was a product of ‘desperation, distortion and a frantic struggle for relevance.’
The response followed a statement by the Alli campaign organisation on Saturday, in which it questioned Governor Seyi Makinde’s engineering credentials over the streetlight project and alleged that the renovated Lekan Salami Stadium had failed to secure approval from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host a continental fixture.
In a statement signed by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the government said it would not apologise for keeping major roads in the state illuminated and safe.
Olanrewaju explained that the use of generators to power some streetlights was necessitated by inadequate electricity supply from the national grid.
He attributed the power challenge to what he described as the failure of the APC-led Federal Government to provide regular electricity supply, noting that Senator Alli is a member of the party.
The governor’s aide also disclosed that the state government had built a 5MW solar power plant, which, he said, was being upgraded to 12MW.
On the Lekan Salami Stadium, Olanrewaju said the renovation had made it possible for Ibadan to host international football matches.
He cited the February 2026 fixture between the Falconets and Senegal as an example of an international match hosted at the facility.
According to him, the temporary pause in Shooting Stars’ international matches at the stadium was due to further upgrades being carried out to meet evolving international standards.
This contrasts with the position of the Alli campaign organisation, which alleged that the stadium had failed to obtain CAF approval for Shooting Stars to host a continental fixture and questioned the outcome of the renovation.
The governor’s aide also defended Makinde’s professional credentials, describing him as a distinguished engineer with decades of practical experience.
He said the Nigerian Society of Engineers had conferred its Fellowship on the governor, describing the honour as evidence of his professional standing.
Olanrewaju further linked the latest criticism to the recent exchange between Makinde and Alli, saying the senator’s position followed the governor’s description of him as a ‘jejune lawyer.’
He, however, said the administration remained focused on development rather than political disagreements.
The Alli campaign organisation had earlier accused the Makinde administration of waste, poor planning and misplaced priorities over the streetlight project and stadium renovation.
It also alleged that about N250 billion had been spent on diesel-powered generators for streetlights and that more than N5 billion had been committed to the stadium renovation.
The figures and other criticisms were presented by the campaign organisation as allegations.
Olanrewaju said the state government would continue with its development agenda despite criticisms from political opponents.
‘The people of Oyo State deserve progress, not propaganda, and that is exactly what this administration will continue to deliver,’ he said.