The Osun State Government has issued a rebuttal to recent criticisms by former governorship candidate, Goke Omigbodun, who questioned the state’s prioritization of flyover projects. Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, in a statement signed on Friday, described Omigbodun’s assertions as “factually incorrect” and “based on opposition rhetoric.”
Alimi acknowledged citizens’ rights to critique the gofv0⁰vernment but cautioned against spreading “fake news, assumptions on false data, and half-truths.”
Addressing Omigbodun’s claims of increased federal allocation, Alimi clarified, “The increase is not up to twofold, let alone fivefold.” He argued that inflation has eroded the purchasing power of current allocations, making Omigbodun’s statement misleading.
The statement also countered Omigbodun’s suggestion for prioritizing debt payments over infrastructure projects, emphasizing that such an approach would “shut down other sectoral demands.” Alimi noted that the phased payment of salary and pension debts is a balanced strategy agreed upon with labor unions.
Responding to Omigbodun’s critique of Osun’s investment in agriculture, Alimi highlighted recent strides, including “the acquisition of tractors, agropreneur programs, and initiatives in cocoa and cashew cultivation.
“Omigbodun’s claim that the administration neglected energy initiatives was also refuted, with Alimi noting the establishment of a legal framework to attract private sector investment in electricity generation and distribution.
On flyover locations, Alimi explained that Olaiya Junction’s traffic congestion was mitigated by the construction of bypass roads, whereas Oke-fia junction remains a major bottleneck. “All roads lead to Oke-fia, creating heavy traffic, especially during peak hours,” he stated, asserting that the choice of location was data-driven.
“Our administration’s policy experts are crafting solutions within a localization framework aligned with the five-point agenda,” he added
