Rebuttal: Osun People Deserve Facts, Not Distractions 

OLALEKAN ONI

The recent statewide press conference addressed by the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeeen Adeleke, raises serious concern not just about accuracy, but about leadership focus and responsibility.

It is both unfortunate and misleading for Governor Adeleke to accuse the former Governor of Osun State and current Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, of causing uproar or interfering in the ongoing issues surrounding the seizure of local government monthly allocations. These allegations are baseless and appear to be a calculated attempt to deflect attention from the growing governance, fiscal, and administrative challenges confronting the Adeleke administration.

Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola is presently engaged in a critical national assignment as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy under the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Since assuming office, the Ministry strategically created to unlock Nigeria’s vast maritime and coastal potential has undergone purposeful reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s blue economy as a major driver of national growth.

Under Minister Oyetola’s leadership, the sector has witnessed renewed focus on institutional coordination, regulatory efficiency, investment attractiveness, job creation, and alignment with global maritime best practices. These reforms are laying the foundation for Nigeria to claim its rightful place in the global marine and blue economy ecosystem while expanding foreign exchange earnings and economic opportunities.

It is therefore illogical and disingenuous to suggest that a Minister so deeply immersed in national economic transformation would abandon his constitutional responsibilities to interfere in local government finances in Osun State. Such claims lack evidence and reflect political anxiety rather than facts.

Governor Adeleke’s reliance on selectively quoted court judgments; some of which have been reviewed or overtaken by decisions of superior courts further exposes the weakness of his argument. In a constitutional democracy, legal disputes are resolved through due process and judicial hierarchy, not through media pronouncements or political convenience.

Federal agencies operate within the framework of the law, not at the directive of any individual, past or present. Attempts to personalize institutional actions only serve to undermine public trust and the rule of law.

More concerning, however, are the Governor’s own admissions. By his own words, capital projects across the state have been halted, and the government is now borrowing to pay salaries and meet routine financial obligations. These are not allegations from opposition figures; they are confessions that point to fiscal distress, weak financial planning, and governance fatigue.

These realities help explain the Governor’s growing resort to blame-shifting. With the Osun governorship election scheduled for August 8, 2026, it is evident that Governor Adeleke is becoming increasingly jittery. Like a drowning man clutching at straws, he appears desperate to manufacture enemies rather than confront the hard truths of governance and accountability.

Osun State deserves leadership that focuses on delivery, not drama; solutions, not scapegoats. Blaming a former governor who has moved on to serve the nation at the federal level will not revive stalled projects, stabilize state finances, or restore investor confidence.

Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola has consistently demonstrated calm leadership, respect for institutions, and a service-driven approach to governance. His current work in the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry aligns squarely with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision, building sustainable sectors that will secure Nigeria’s economic future and improve national competitiveness.

History has shown that when administrations begin to trade facts for finger-pointing, it is often a sign of declining public confidence. Osun State deserves better than distractions. The people deserve truth, competence, and leadership anchored on responsibility.

While some are busy manufacturing excuses and convening press conferences to shift blame, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola remains focused on a national mandate, repositioning Nigeria’s marine and blue economy for global relevance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Administration. From institutional reforms to strategic alignment with global maritime best practices, the Honourable Minister continues to demonstrate quiet competence and purpose-driven leadership. That is leadership; everything else is distraction.

As the countdown to August 8, 2026 continues, no amount of noise, accusations, or blame-shifting can substitute for performance. Osun people are politically conscious, discerning, and fully aware of where governance has succeeded, and where it has failed.

In 2026, Osun people will choose between excuses and experience, between noise and numbers, between distraction and direction.

– Olalekan Oni writes from Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo.
lekanoni1710@gmail.com