APC told to apologise to Osun civil servants before comeback bid

The spokesperson for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election campaign council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to apologise to civil servants in Osun State before attempting to return to power. He argued that accountability for past governance failures must come before any renewed political ambition.

In a statement issued on Friday, Olajengbesi said civil servants in the state endured significant hardship under the APC-led administration between 2018 and 2022, citing irregular salary payments, neglect of retirees, and declining morale within the public service. He contrasted this with what he described as improved conditions since Adeleke assumed office in 2022, including the consistent payment of salaries.

“The APC must, as a matter of urgency, present a clear account of its stewardship while in government,” Olajengbesi said. “It must explain to the people the economic strain, institutional decline, and governance challenges that characterised its administration.”

He stressed that the experiences of civil servants during the previous administration were not abstract but reflected the lived realities of thousands of workers across the state. According to him, the failure to acknowledge these issues makes any attempt by the APC to seek power again both ironic and insensitive.

“We call on the Osun APC to tender an unreserved apology to the civil servants of Osun State before seeking to re-engage the electorate. Accountability must precede ambition,” he added.

Olajengbesi’s remarks were in response to a statement by the Osun State chapter of the APC, signed by Kola Olabisi, which reacted to his earlier interview on Rave FM. He accused the opposition party of avoiding substantive issues while resorting to personal attacks and misinformation.

“Rather than engage with the real issues affecting the people of Osun State, the APC has once again resorted to diversion, distortion, and needless personal attacks,” he said. “This is a clear indication of a political opposition struggling to find relevance in the face of visible governance and growing public confidence in the current administration.”

He further claimed that ongoing developments in the state are tangible and widely acknowledged by residents, noting that the perceived progress has unsettled critics associated with the previous government.

“The transformation currently being witnessed across Osun State is not speculative; it is evident, measurable, and acknowledged by the people,” Olajengbesi stated. “This renewed confidence in government has understandably unsettled those whose time in office was defined by hardship, stagnation, and administrative uncertainty.”

Highlighting the achievements of the Adeleke administration, Olajengbesi said the government has restored dignity to governance, prioritised workers’ welfare, and rebuilt trust between the state and its citizens.

He concluded by urging voters to focus on performance rather than political rhetoric as future elections approach.

“The people of Osun State deserve more than noise. They deserve answers,” he said. “Osun voters are discerning. They will interrogate records, not rhetoric. They will choose progress over regression.”