A former Commissioner of Information and Strategy in Osun State, Sunday Akere, has claimed that former governor Adegboyega Oyetola lost the 2022 governorship election in the state due to political manipulations within the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Akere also disclosed that the former governor lost the election not as a result of unpopularity but because some powers believed that dealing with him will stop Bola Tinubu from becoming President.
Akere made this revelation during the 41st edition of The Frontliners, organised by the League of Veteran Journalists in Osogbo on Thursday.
According to Akere, who is a member of the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, “Today in Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola has the first right of review.
“We lost 2022 election due to political manipulations from the leaders of the party. We lost the election not because we were not popular but because some powers believed that we must deal with Oyetola to stop Tinubu from becoming President.”
He also said the 2026 governorship election in Osun State will see Adegboyega Oyetola defeating Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, hands down.
“Oyetola contesting in 2026 will defeat the PDP hands down.”
Akere also insisted that the former governor was never the enemy of civil servants in the state as he never owed them salaries.
“Oyetola was never the enemy of civil servants. All through his administration, there was not a single protest from students. He paid bursary and did not make noise about it.
“He never intervened in the running of higher institutions and doesn’t encourage illegalities.”
Akere criticised the Ademola Adeleke administration for being wasteful of resources and insincerity.
“Are we comparing what Osun State was earning under Oyetola and to what Adeleke is earning?
“What Adeleke took in 23 months is what Oyetola took for 48 months.
“Are we comparing the quality of jobs being done. We did the Olaiya Flyover with N2.9 billion and they are doing the same Flyover at Okefia for N10 billion. Almost all the roads are peeling.
“They have not left and their roads are already giving way. The roads Baba Bisi Akande did when he was state governor are still there till today.
“The Ile-Ife Flyover the administration said will cost N19 billion, if the administration take N9 billion from it to repair all the roads in Ile-Ife, that town will be better.”