2027: Alli questions Makinde’s engineering credentials over ‘wasteful Oyo projects’
By Adejayan Gbenga
Senator Sharafadeen Alli has questioned Governor Seyi Makinde’s engineering credentials while criticising the Oyo State Government over what he described as wasteful spending and shortcomings in major infrastructure projects ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Alli, through the Director of Media and Publicity of his campaign organisation, Bisi Oladele, said it was difficult to reconcile Makinde’s background in electrical engineering with the management of the state’s streetlight project.
The campaign organisation alleged that billions of naira had been spent on streetlights that still relied on fuel-powered generators, arguing that the government should have adopted more sustainable alternatives, particularly solar-powered systems. “It is a tragic irony that Governor Makinde, who studied electrical engineering, cannot devise a sustainable electricity solution for the streetlights installed with about N400 billion of state funds by his government,” the organisation said.
The organisation also criticised 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. It said more than N5 billion had been committed to the renovation, which was completed with public fanfare in 2021.
It questioned why Shooting Stars would have to use an alternative venue in Abeokuta, Ogun State, for continental matches after public funds had been spent on renovating its traditional home ground in Ibadan. The campaign organisation also raised questions about the quality and certification of the work carried out at the stadium.
According to Alli’s campaign, the streetlight and stadium issues raised concerns about the planning, execution and value for money of major projects under the Makinde administration. It maintained that Oyo residents deserved infrastructure that functions effectively and projects that provide measurable benefits.
The organisation further claimed that Makinde’s repeated references to Alli during public engagements indicated that the APC governorship candidate remained a subject of the governor’s attention. It, however, maintained that public projects should be designed and executed primarily to serve residents rather than become instruments of political publicity.
The campaign organisation’s criticisms come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with Alli using the streetlight and stadium projects to question the administration’s approach to infrastructure delivery and the use of public funds.
