Adeleke slams Oyetola over criticism, threatens to reveal damaging details

The Governor of Ademola Adeleke has warned the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, to desist from attacking him or risk having his alleged past and present actions made public.

Adeleke’s reaction followed remarks reportedly made by the minister through his Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, which were critical of the Osun governor.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor urged Oyetola to concentrate on his ministerial duties rather than criticising what he described as a widely acknowledged performing administration in Osun State.

Rasheed challenged the minister’s camp to address what he termed significant shortcomings in the marine and blue economy sector, including rising fatalities on the nation’s waterways. He claimed that deaths on inland waterways had exceeded 1,000 under Oyetola’s watch, alleging that no effective short- or long-term strategy had been introduced to tackle the crisis.

The statement further accused the minister of underperforming in key reform areas within the marine sector, referencing concerns raised during a recent budget defence session at the National Assembly.

Adeleke’s aide also dismissed criticisms of the governor’s administration, arguing that Osun’s mining sector had witnessed major reforms since he assumed office. According to the statement, the state had seen a substantial increase in foreign direct investment following Adeleke’s participation at a recent mining conference, with inflows reportedly rising from 50 million dollars to nearly 150 million dollars.

The governor’s camp maintained that reforms in the mining sector included the revalidation of state-owned licences and securing Osun’s stake in the Segilola gold project. It contrasted these achievements with what it described as poor performance during Oyetola’s tenure in Osun.

Rasheed concluded that while the minister’s team focused on political commentary, Adeleke remained committed to delivering results across sectors in the state. “Governor Adeleke is today widely applauded in every corner of Osun state for his exceptional performance across the sectors. Where Bolaji’s boss failed, Governor Adeleke is excelling,” the statement concluded.