The Campaign Organisation of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, on Saturday, September 19, questioned the engineering credentials of Governor Seyi Makinde.
It said it wondered why the governor claimed to have studied electrical engineering but wasted over N250 billion to power streetlights in Oyo State with diesel-guzzling generators.
The campaign organisation also educated the governor on legal practice, explaining how Senator Alli has been practising as a lawyer since 1987.
The campaign organisation, in a statement through its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, was in reaction to Makinde’s statement on Friday where he described Alli as a lawyer who has never entered the courtroom.
It said Makinde only advertised his ignorance and demonstrated his bitterness with the fact that Senator Alli will be the choice of Oyo State people to succeed him in 2027.
The statement reads in part: “Contrary to Makinde’s ignorant assertion, Senator Sharafadeen Alli is not a portfolio lawyer. He is a thoroughbred legal practitioner.
“After his practice in Nnewi, Senator Alli practised with R. A. Sarumi & Co. Solicitors, Advocates & Notary Public, one of the most respected law firms in the old Western Region, till 1991 when he was elected as the first executive chairman of Ibadan North Local Government.
“Alli established his own law firm Biodun Alli & Co. in Ibadan in 1994 offering services as barristers, solicitors, company secretaries, practitioners and auctioneers.
“He is the principal partner in the law firm till present. In his experience of law practice, Senator Alli has handled high-profile briefs, conveyancing and corporate practice for years before answering the higher call to public service.
“This is public record, verifiable at the Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan Branch, and at the Corporate Affairs Commission. Makinde could have done a simple check if governance had not been reduced to roadside talk.
“On his credential as an engineer, it is a tragic irony that Governor Makinde, who studied electrical engineering, cannot devise a sustainable electricity solution for the streetlights installed and maintained with about N400 billion of state funds.
“Instead, the administration continues to power them with fuel-guzzling generators—an outdated, expensive and environmentally harmful arrangement funded from the public purse.
“At a time when modern cities are embracing solar-powered and energy-efficient street lighting systems, Oyo State remains trapped in the age of diesel generators under the supervision of an electrical engineer. It is more embarrassingly illogical given the fact that his predecessor undertook the same project adopting the solar system.”
“Equally disturbing is 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.
“After committing over N5 billions to the stadium renovation project, followed by great fanfare in 2021, the facility could not satisfy the requirements for the very international matches expected of a major sporting arena.”
