Osun APC Blasts Adeleke Over Prolonged US Stay, Alleges N6bn Wasted on Foreign Trips

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a swipe at Governor Ademola Adeleke over his prolonged stay in the United States, describing it as an act of neglect and insensitivity to the plight of Osun citizens. The opposition party insisted that Adeleke must immediately return to the state to discharge his duties as the chief executive.

In a statement released in Osogbo on Wednesday by the state APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, the party accused the governor of abandoning governance for personal indulgence, stressing that his absence had left several critical state matters unattended. According to Lawal, it was “disheartening” that Adeleke, who has now spent over a month abroad, had initially left Osun in secrecy, only to later claim he was in the US preparing for the wedding of his nephew, music superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

The APC noted that although the wedding had concluded weeks earlier, the governor had failed to return, instead offering explanations that he was engaged in meetings with potential foreign investors. The party, however, dismissed this justification as unconvincing and lacking credibility.

Allegations of N6bn Spent on Foreign Trips

Beyond his absence, the Osun APC also raised concerns about what it termed Adeleke’s “lavish” expenditure on international travels. According to the opposition, Adeleke’s administration has squandered over N6 billion on foreign trips since he assumed office in November 2022, without attracting any meaningful foreign direct investment to the state.

The party alleged that the governor spent a staggering N3.1 billion on foreign trips within the first half of 2025 alone, compared to N1.2 billion in 2024 and N753 million in 2023. The APC argued that such reckless spending was a betrayal of the people’s trust, especially when Osun continues to grapple with economic hardship, poor infrastructure, and rising unemployment.

“The governor’s carefree attitude is alarming. Instead of facing the challenges confronting Osun, he appears more interested in junketing abroad at the expense of taxpayers,” Lawal said. He further pointed out that Adeleke’s foreign engagements had yielded no visible returns, as there had been no tangible projects, partnerships, or investments resulting from his numerous trips.

Viral Photo Sparks Fresh Controversy

The APC’s criticism was further fueled by a viral photograph purportedly showing Adeleke in a casual setting in the US, with no indication of formal business or diplomatic meetings. The party claimed the image reinforced doubts about the governor’s claim of meeting investors abroad.

According to Lawal, “It is deeply troubling that while Osun faces pressing issues, Governor Adeleke is seen in informal environments abroad, claiming to be wooing investors. The image of a sitting governor playing drums in a US clubhouse raises serious concerns about the seriousness of his leadership.”

The APC insisted that such behavior was unbecoming of a governor and painted Osun in a bad light on the international stage. It added that the people of the state deserved a leader who would take their challenges seriously rather than one perceived to be prioritising personal leisure.

Governance Failures and Unfulfilled Promises

Linking Adeleke’s travels to wider governance concerns, the APC accused him of neglecting crucial issues such as security, education, and employment. The party alleged that local government workers had withdrawn from duty in some areas due to security fears, while thousands of unemployed youths who applied for government jobs were still left in limbo.

The APC recalled that over 32,000 applicants had paid fees and taken part in a recruitment process initiated by the government, but to date, no meaningful outcome had been communicated to them. “It is heartless to raise the hopes of desperate job seekers, collect their money, and then fail to fulfill promises of employment,” the statement read.

In addition, the party berated Adeleke for sacking 1,500 teachers without providing replacements, a decision it said had worsened the education crisis in the state. According to the APC, three years into Adeleke’s tenure, Osun has seen more dismissals than appointments in the teaching sector, a record the opposition described as “unenviable and destructive to the future of the state.”

APC’s Call for Responsible Leadership

The Osun APC concluded its statement by demanding Adeleke’s urgent return and rededication to his responsibilities as governor. The party urged him to place the interests of Osun citizens above personal indulgence and to take immediate steps to address the challenges bedeviling the state.

“Governor Adeleke must demonstrate true leadership by coming back home to face the reality of governance. The people of Osun deserve accountability, responsibility, and purposeful leadership, not absenteeism and reckless spending,” the APC declared.

The opposition also called on civil society groups, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to speak up against what it described as “misrule” in the state, warning that Adeleke’s continued absence would only deepen Osun’s crises.