By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has responded to the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its criticisms of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election endorsements.
The ruling party said that the main opposition is fighting a lost battle.
The PDP, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi on Monday, said the Osun APC must purge itself of the arrogance of recognising the will of the people in a democracy.
Bisi declared that no amount of ranting or innuendos will take away the fact that the people of Osun are solidly behind Governor Adeleke and will renew his mandate when the ballot is opened.
“It is a pity that the Osun APC has been lost to illusion that it is failing to see that Osun people are solidly behind Governor Ademola Adeleke. Osun APC’s irrational contest of the will of the people is a danger to our democracy and should concern all,” the statement read in part.
“Contrary to the erroneous postulation of the Osun APC, the Governor earned the endorsements for another term in office on the merit of the remarkable work he has done in his first two years. In infrastructure, not only has Governor Adeleke initiated new roads and bridges, but also completed some that were abandoned by the preceding APC administration.
“If the Osun APC had any honour left with it, the right thing to do was to acknowledge it, but we suspect they are so ashamed and would want to keep it away from the public. They are however mistaken, as the truth of their failure while in office was too open to be concealed and the public are well aware of how much Governor Adeleke is working to fix their mess.
“Under the APC, promotions were given but the financial aspect of it was left unattended to. Governor Adeleke came and not only implemented the financial consequences of the promotion, but also cashbacked it. The same thing with pensioners who have received more release of their bond certificate in two years than in twelve years of the APC in Osun.
“Yet, the Osun APC is wondering why the people are endorsing Governor Adeleke for re-election. Except for delusion, the reason is clear and only those who want the retrogression of Osun will do otherwise.”
Hon. Bisi dismissed the claim by the Osun APC that Governor Adeleke sacked 1,500 teachers in the state as an invented lie that has failed to gain life, wondering why the APC has found it hard to produce the purported sack letter of those disengaged.
“It is not surprising that the Osun APC is regurgitating the same lie it has repeatedly promoted for over two years. They have no reasonable thing to hold the Governor, hence, manufacturing lies, which has failed with the people. When Governor Adeleke assumed office, education was near comatose as public schools infrastructure were in a deplorable condition, unhealthy for both students and teachers.
“This was because his predecessor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, made no investment whatsoever on the infrastructure of the public, turning what should be a safe environment into a dangerous trap. In two years, Governor Adeleke has concentrated on putting the infrastructures in good condition and equipping, making them safe for both teachers and students. No fewer than 100 public schools have been rehabilitated and equipped and many more will be done this year. This will be followed by deploying successful candidates in the almost concluded teaching recruitment into those schools.
“Similar investments are made in the health sector, with about 200 PHCs across the state wholly rehabilitated and equipped with 24/7 power and water. This wouldn’t have been necessary if Oyetola had not misused the $20.5 million grant received from the World Bank to upscale the infrastructures of the PHCs to the standard of the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is rather unfortunate that those who failed grossly when they had the chance are turning to blame the man fixing their mess.
“It is however comforting that Osun people are well aware of the horrible past that the APC represents in the state and will not be swayed by a doomed-to-fail mission to sneak to power. In the days ahead, Osun people should expect more of the APC’s wild rhetoric and deliberate misinformation campaign in desperation for power, but they must firmly reject them in order to guarantee the progress that Osun is witnessing under Governor Adeleke.”