Makinde, Alli clash over diesel-powered streetlights

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. Photo: Oyo State Government.

The campaign organisation of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has questioned the engineering credentials of the state governor, Seyi Makinde, over the powering of streetlights with diesel-guzzling generators.

A statement by the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation on Saturday condemned what it described as an “embarrassing culture of waste, poor planning and misplaced priorities” in the project.

The campaign organisation, through its Head, Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, was reacting to Makinde’s statement on Friday, where he described Sharafadeen Alli as a lawyer who had never entered the courtroom.

Oladele said, “It is a tragic irony that Governor Makinde, who studied electrical engineering, cannot devise a sustainable electricity solution for the streetlights installed with about N400bn of state funds by his government.

“Instead, the administration continues to power them with fuel-guzzling generators—an outdated, expensive and environmentally harmful arrangement funded from the public purse.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 streetlighting systems, Oyo State remains trapped in the age of diesel generators under the supervision of an electrical engineer.”

“This raises serious questions about the governor’s competence, priorities and commitment to prudent management of taxpayers’ money. Should we judge Governor Makinde’s claim as an electrical engineer by his streetlight project, the answer is obvious to all.”

Reacting to the criticism, the Special Adviser to Makinde on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, defended the use of generators to power streetlights across the state, saying the administration would not apologise for keeping the state illuminated and secure.

• Rainbow Coalition: Wike harvests aggrieved APC leaders
• N8,000 debt suicide: Charge sheet exposes Oyo police cover-up
• Tinubu, Atiku, Obi redraw electoral battle lines

Olanrewaju said the use of generators became necessary because of the unreliable electricity supply from the national grid, adding that the state government was also pursuing alternative energy sources.

In a statement titled, “Alli’s desperation cannot dim Oyo State’s progress,” Olanrewaju said the criticism showed that the opposition had resorted to what he described as “desperation, distortion, and a frantic struggle for relevance.”

He said, “On the matter of streetlights, the Makinde administration will never apologise for keeping Oyo State illuminated and secure.

“The only reason generators are being used is because the APC-led Federal Government, Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s party, has failed spectacularly to deliver the regular electricity supply it promised Nigerians.

“If the national grid were reliable, there would be absolutely no need for diesel-powered generators.”

Olanrewaju urged Alli to direct his concerns about electricity supply to the Federal Government, saying the state was pursuing alternative solutions to its power challenges.

He said the state government had built a 5MW solar plant, which he said was being upgraded to 12MW.