The Oyo State Government has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of displaying a fear of accountability by dismissing Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s recent media chat as a “waste of time.”
The governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, made the allegation in a statement on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, describing the APC’s reaction as reckless and a demonstration of its disregard for democratic values.
Olanrewaju said direct engagement between elected leaders and citizens was essential to transparency, accountability and responsible governance, adding that Makinde addressed critical issues, including security, infrastructure, financial management and local government administration, during the media chat.
He attributed Oyo State’s reported top ranking in democratic governance to the administration’s commitment to public engagement, transparency and responsiveness to citizens’ concerns.
On security, the governor’s aide said the state had strengthened Amotekun, expanded patrol capacity, upgraded communication systems, acquired surveillance aircraft and deepened collaboration with federal security agencies. He maintained that these measures had contributed to a significant reduction in major crime indices compared with levels before 2019.
Olanrewaju also dismissed the APC’s criticism of the state’s economic direction, citing increased internally generated revenue, rising private investments and major road projects, including the Moniya–Iseyin Road, Ogbomoso–Iseyin Road and the Ibadan Circular Road.
He added that the upgrade of Ibadan Airport to international standards was among the initiatives expected to expand economic opportunities and connect the state more strongly to global markets.
The governor’s aide further faulted allegations that Makinde was disconnected from the grassroots, pointing to town hall meetings, media chats, empowerment programmes and the restoration of local government elections as evidence of the administration’s inclusive approach.
He described claims that the media chat was politically motivated as baseless, insisting that it was part of the governor’s routine accountability mechanism for keeping residents informed about government policies and performance.
Olanrewaju said Oyo State’s reported national recognitions for liveability and democratic governance reflected progress in infrastructure, economic development, public participation and institutional reforms.
He urged the APC to acknowledge the administration’s achievements, insisting that the state would continue to pursue its development agenda despite criticism from the opposition.
“Leadership is measured by impact, not noise,” Olanrewaju said.
