Former Managing Director of the Osun State Investment Company Limited, Dr. Tunde Faleye, has faulted Governor Ademola Adeleke over what he described as a lopsided spread of major infrastructure projects in the state, alleging that Ede Federal Constituency got the lion’s share in the last three and a half years.
Dr Faleye, who stated this on Monday, said his review of 20 key projects worth ₦362.3 billion showed that 8 of them, valued at ₦260.5 billion, were sited in Ede alone. That accounts for roughly 71.9% of the total value.
He noted that the remaining 12 projects worth ₦101.8 billion, or 28.1%, were distributed across the other eight federal constituencies.
Faleye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun, called the trend an obvious bias and disturbing for an administration that claims to serve all parts of the state.
Giving a breakdown, Faleye claimed that “Osogbo Federal Constituency, which hosts the state capital, came second with 3 projects worth ₦31.2 billion, representing 8.6%. Ile-Ife followed with 2 projects valued at ₦17.6 billion, 4.9%, while Ilesa had one project worth ₦16.5 billion, 4.5%.”
He, however, noted that the Ilesa project was a dualisation of a federal highway done by the state for the Federal Government, and that ₦12 billion has already been refunded to Osun by Abuja.
“Consequently, while the project is geographically located within Ilesa Federal Constituency, its funding arrangement differs and should be considered separately,” Faleye said.
According to him, other areas got much less.
“Iwo recorded ₦9.8 billion in projects, Ila ₦9.4 billion, Ikirun ₦9.0 billion, and Ijebu-Jesa had two projects totalling ₦8.0 billion. Ikire was at the bottom with just one project worth ₦29.97 million, 0.01% of the ₦362.3 billion.
“This data analysis indicates a highly concentrated distribution, with nearly three-quarters of the total project value located in a single federal constituency, while the other constituencies collectively account for just over one-quarter,” he stated.
With the August 15 governorship election approaching, Faleye questioned the rationale behind the allocation.
“Why would a Governor seeking a second term choose to be so self-serving and display such an apparent level of bias in the distribution of the state’s commonwealth? A government that genuinely desires the confidence and support of all its citizens should strive for fairness, equity, and inclusiveness.”
He warned that if the first term was marked by such imbalance, “it is better imagined what a second and final term could mean for those federal constituencies that were so marginalised.”
Faleye concluded that the decision before Osun voters “is not merely about personalities or political parties; it is about the kind of governance they wish to encourage. As the saying goes, a word is enough for the wise.”