The Oyo State Government has debunked claims by the Senator Sharadadeen Alli Campaign Organization (SSACO) that Governor Seyi Makinde has “paralysed” local governments in the State, describing the allegation as misleading, defective and contradicted by facts on the ground.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Energy, Professor Daud Kehinde Sangodoyin, the government said SSACO appeared more interested in constructing a political narrative than establishing facts, adding that the group failed to examine verifiable projects being executed across the 33 Local Government Areas before making sweeping allegations.
Local Governments Not Paralysed
Prof. Sangodoyin said documented project records show that Local Government Councils and Local Council Development Areas have undertaken and completed projects across virtually every part of the State, cutting across road construction and rehabilitation, bridges and culverts, drainage, markets, electricity infrastructure, water supply, public buildings, schools and security infrastructure.
Among the documented projects listed by the government are:
- 14.1km Eruwa–Lanlate–Maya Road in Ibarapa East;
- 15.75km Igbole Express Road to Ibarapa Central boundary;
- 10km Omi-Adio Junction–Ido Junction Road in Ido Local Government;
- 6km Akobo Ojurin–Olorunda Abaa Road in Lagelu;
- 6.45km Olodo Garage–Kasumu/Ajia Junction Road in Egbeda;
- 3.5km Olorunsogo Express/Ariyo–Amuloko Road in Ona-Ara;
- 6km Idiko-Ile–Ayegun Road in Iwajowa;
- 3.1km Olive Estate Internal Roads in Ibadan North;
- 2.65km Abayomi Olagoke Akano–Raji Rasaki Road in Ibadan North East;
- 2.5km Alakia–Isebo/Iyana Church Road in Egbeda;
- 1.8km Dandaru–Agbadagbudu Road in Ibadan North;
- 1km Ikolaba/Omowale Kuye Estate Road in Ibadan North;
- 3.5km Ikolaba Main Road Network in Ibadan North;
- 2km Bodija Main Market Road in Ibadan North;
- Omi-Tuntun Ultra-Modern Market in Ido;
- Kajola Ultra-Modern Market in Ogbomoso South;
- Reconstruction of Akesan Market in Oyo East;
- Iseyin/LAUTECH campus roads and associated infrastructure;
- 33KV electricity infrastructure and transformer projects in Iseyin and Itesiwaju;
- Solar public lighting projects in parts of Ibadan North and other LGAs;
- Schools, culverts, drainage structures, markets and public buildings across several LGAs.
The Commissioner added that State records also show projects completed in 2026, including the Ikolaba/Omowale Kuye Estate Road, Bodija Main Market Road, Ikolaba Main Road Network and the Oba Adeyemi-Mobolaje Road, among others.
“These are not the activities of ‘paralysed’ local governments. They are tangible projects with identifiable locations and beneficiaries,” he said.
Facts Speak Louder Than Political Rhetoric
The government challenged SSACO to provide evidence to back its claim, asking the group to identify which Local Government Areas are allegedly paralysed, which specific functions have ceased, which projects have been abandoned because of the claimed paralysis, and how the allegation can be reconciled with the numerous ongoing projects.
“Generalised political statements cannot substitute for evidence,” Sangodoyin said.
Development Visible Across Oyo State
According to him, local government interventions span both urban and rural communities — from Ibadan to Ibarapa, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Iseyin, Saki, Ido, Egbeda, Lagelu, Ona-Ara, Atisbo and Iwajowa — addressing practical needs such as roads, bridges, markets, electricity and drainage in flood-prone areas.
“The point is not that every problem in every local government has been solved. No responsible government would make such a claim. The point is that the assertion that local governments have been ‘paralysed’ is inconsistent with the documented evidence,” he added.
Politics Should Not Replace Facts
Prof. Sangodoyin stressed that while criticism of government is legitimate and part of democratic discourse, it must be anchored in facts.
“SSACO may disagree with Governor Seyi Makinde and may criticise policies of the Oyo State Government. That is part of democratic discourse. But political criticism must be anchored in facts. Where there are shortcomings, SSACO should identify them specifically.
“What cannot be accepted is the substitution of sweeping political rhetoric for facts that are readily verifiable on the ground. The people of Oyo State can see the roads, bridges, markets, drainage facilities, electricity projects, public buildings and other infrastructure being delivered in their communities. The record speaks for itself.
“Your facts are wrong, your narrative are defective, the record of local government development across the State speaks for itself.” He concluded
