Akere blames political manipulations for Oyetola’s loss in the Osun governorship election, suggesting unfair tactics influenced the outcome.
Sunday Akere, a past Commissioner of Information and Strategy in Osun State, has asserted that political manipulations within the All Progressives Congress (APC) led to former governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s defeat in the 2022 governorship election.
Akere further revealed that the former governor did not lose the election due to a lack of popularity. Instead, certain influential figures believed opposing him would prevent Bola Tinubu from becoming President.
During the 41st edition of The Frontliners, organized by the League of Veteran Journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, Akere made this revelation.
Akere, a member of the Governing Council at Federal Polytechnic in Ilaro, Ogun State, stated that “in Osun State today, Adegboyega Oyetola holds the primary right to review.”
“We lost the 2022 election due to political maneuvers by party leaders. Our defeat wasn’t a result of lacking popularity but rather because certain influential forces believed we needed to challenge Oyetola in order to hinder Tinubu’s path to the presidency.”
He also predicted that in the 2026 governorship election in Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola will decisively defeat Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
If Oyetola runs in 2026, he will easily defeat the PDP.
Akere emphasized that the former governor was not an adversary to the state’s civil servants, as he consistently ensured their salaries were paid on time.
Oyetola was never viewed as an adversary by civil servants. Throughout his administration, students did not stage any protests. He provided bursaries without making a fuss about it.
“He has always refrained from interfering in the management of higher institutions and does not support any unlawful activities.”
Akere accused the Ademola Adeleke administration of being wasteful with resources and lacking sincerity.
Are we comparing the earnings of Osun State under Oyetola with those under Adeleke?
“Adeleke took in 23 months what Oyetola required 48 months to take.”
Are we assessing the quality of work being completed? We constructed the Olaiya Flyover for N2.9 billion, while a similar flyover at Okefia is costing them N10 billion. Nearly all of their roads are deteriorating.
“They still haven’t left, yet their roads are already deteriorating. The roads constructed by Baba Bisi Akande during his tenure as state governor remain intact to this day.”
“The administration stated that the Ile-Ife Flyover will cost N19 billion. If they allocate N9 billion of this amount to repairing all roads in Ile-Ife, it would greatly improve the town.”
Peoplesmind