Oyo Govt to Mr Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo: Lies have short legs

In recent times, Mr. Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo, SAN, has turned himself into a factory of incendiary commentaries, distortions, and personal attacks against Governor Seyi Makinde and his administration all in a bid to promote his candidate. Mr. Adebayo is free to support any candidate he likes, even one who is clearly addled and patently incompetent, but he has no licence to twist facts or manufacture falsehoods to justify his political choices. We remind him of a simple truth: lies have short legs. They may stagger noisily for a moment, but they cannot outrun facts, nor can they withstand the reality of the administration’s visible achievements.
Mr. Adebayo has chosen to operate like a loose cannon, desperately rummaging for any scrap of dirt to diminish the achievements of the Makinde administration and demarket the Governor’s preferred gubernatorial candidate. His tantrums, theatrics, and wild allegations have reduced serious governance issues to beer parlour gossip, conduct disgraceful for someone who carries the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
His relentless attacks and exaggerated bravado betray motivations rooted not in public interest but in inducement. The people of Oyo State can see through his charade. They understand the undertones of his commentaries and will not dance to his delirious tune. They remain appreciative of Governor Makinde’s work, confident in his leadership, and supportive of candidates of the Allied People’s Movement (APM).
Mr. Adebayo’s description of the Ogbere–Amuloko–Akanran–Ilaji–Ogun State border road is a masterclass in exaggeration and condescension. His claim that road users “have their thinking apparatuses at the soles of their feet” is reckless, insulting, and unbecoming of a senior lawyer. Contrary to his sensationalism, the road is part of a World Bank–supported rural access corridor governed by strict procurement rules, environmental assessments, and phased implementation schedules. No World Bank project can be “abandoned to spite” any individual or undermine a private business. Government prioritises roads based on public interest, economic value, and technical feasibility, not on the whims of political actors. Work on the corridor remains firmly within the state’s rural access and agricultural mobility plan, alongside numerous completed and ongoing projects across Oyo State.
His allegation that the Governor diverted local government funds or rendered the system “comatose” is another deliberate falsehood. Joint funding of strategic roads by the state and local governments is lawful, necessary, and often the only viable way to deliver infrastructure beyond the financial capacity of individual councils. Local governments in Oyo State continue to function, pay salaries, and execute projects. The administration has also conducted democratic local government elections, strengthening grassroots governance, a fact Mr. Adebayo conveniently ignores.
The administration’s approach to road works combines rehabilitation, reconstruction, and new construction based on engineering reports and budget realities. Rehabilitation is deployed where full reconstruction is not immediately necessary or cost effective. All costs follow due process, procurement laws, competitive bidding, and oversight. Claims that roads were executed without regard to cost or standards are baseless.
Mr. Adebayo’s comments on the education sector disregard measurable improvements under Governor Makinde: better WAEC performance, increased enrolment, and sustained investment in infrastructure and teacher welfare. The School Governing Board model was not discarded; it was integrated into a broader reform framework. The resignation of any individual does not imply wrongdoing. The Education Trust Fund continues to operate under due process. It is also on record that the Makinde administration has employed more teachers than any administration in the state. It is also on record that the Makinde administration resolved longstanding issues at Ladoke Akintola University that previous administrations failed to address, a fact Mr. Adebayo pretends not to know.
His description of Oyo State’s hospitals as “pigsty” is not only inaccurate but disrespectful to health workers. The administration has renovated and upgraded several facilities, improved equipment, and strengthened the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency. Allegations of pilfering or misuse of funds require evidence, not political theatre. Primary Health Care projects follow procurement laws.
On security, Mr. Adebayo deliberately ignores the significant progress made under Governor Makinde. The administration has strengthened Amotekun, improved logistics for federal security agencies, and repositioned the Security Trust Fund. Oyo State remains safer than many other states. Procurement of the surveillance aircraft followed security protocols and Executive Council approvals. Claims that advisers were “in the dark” are speculative and unserious.
His comments on the Circular Road project also misrepresent the facts. The contract was reviewed due to contractual and technical concerns. If the Ajimobi administration’s approach was effective, why was the project stalled? Government has a responsibility to renegotiate or terminate contracts that do not serve the public interest. No responsible government would indulge a concessionaire that is not delivering on agreed terms.
The suggestion that Governor Makinde “stole” ideas or “carted away” solar lights under Operation Light Up Oyo is laughable. Energy choices, solar or diesel, are based on cost, maintenance, and technical feasibility. The administration’s priority is public safety and mobility, and this objective has been achieved. The Lekan Salami Stadium was rehabilitated to modern standards, which is why it has hosted several international matches. Regulatory assessments are routine.
Governor Seyi Makinde welcomes constructive, fact based scrutiny. What he will not accept is the rewriting of history through exaggerations, vendettas, and unsubstantiated allegations. The people of Oyo State are discerning; they see the roads built and still being built, the schools revitalised, the hospitals upgraded, the security architecture strengthened, and the governance reforms improving daily life. In the fullness of time, tangible results, not incendiary essays or politically motivated outbursts, will speak for the administration.

Signed
Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju
Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor of Oyo State
October 18, 2026