Makinde Hits Back At Alli Camp Over Diesel-Powered Streetlights Comments, Says ‘One Claiming Lawyer’ Was Never Given Junior Advocate, Talk Less Of SAN
The Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has hit back at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, over comments concerning the use of diesel-powered generators to operate streetlights across parts of the state.
Makinde, while speaking at the BOYE NATION/JAF Movement Concert in Ibadan, responded to criticism of his administration’s decision to use generators to power some streetlights, with the governor directing a personal jab at Alli over his legal credentials.
“The one calling himself lawyer was never given a junior advocate, talk less of SAN,” Makinde said.
The governor also linked the issue of diesel-powered streetlights to the country’s electricity situation, arguing that Oyo State would not have had to resort to generators if the Federal Government had provided the electricity supply promised by President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, “Their father, who is their leader, said there will be electricity supply throughout Nigeria in four years, and if he could not achieve that, Nigeria should not vote for him again.”
Makinde said the use of alternative power sources by the state should be viewed against the backdrop of the unreliable electricity supply from the national grid, stressing that the state would have preferred a situation where streetlights could be powered directly from a stable electricity supply.
The governor’s comments followed recent criticism from the APC camp over the use of diesel-powered generators for streetlights in Oyo State, with questions raised about the cost and sustainability of the arrangement.
The state government had previously explained that alternative power sources became necessary because of challenges associated with electricity supply from the national grid, while efforts were being made to develop other power options for the state.
The exchange between Makinde and Alli has further intensified the political debate in Oyo State over electricity supply, public infrastructure and the responsibilities of the federal and state governments ahead of the 2027 general elections.