Ola Akinwunmi
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has revealed that 11 out of 22 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), originally procured under Rauf Aregbesola’s administration and left unused by his successor, have undergone rehabilitation and are nearing completion of repairs.
However, Ismail Omipidan, former chief press secretary to ex-governor Adegboyega Oyetola, alleges the exercise amounts to a simple repaint rather than genuine refurbishment. The administration insists this phased upgrade will bolster state security and symbolically respect inherited projects.
On Monday, Governor Adeleke directed that the rusting APCs be rehabilitated in batches, announcing via his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed that 11 carriers are “now nearing the final stage of rehabilitation” and will soon be relaunched under the banner “rehabilitated by Governor Ademola Adeleke”
Rasheed emphasized that Adeleke’s vow to never abandon inherited projects extended to these vehicles, which had allegedly been left “rusting away” during the previous administration.
According to the statement, the second phase of rehabilitation will commence immediately after the first batch is fully upgraded, with plans to integrate the carriers into the state’s security and surveillance apparatus.
Ismail Omipidan, who served as Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Oyetola, took to Facebook (now X) to dismiss the rehabilitation claims as a “fraudulent act,” insisting the APCs are merely being repainted from red to black
He noted, “After painting the Omoluabi buses, they are now repainting the APCs from red colour to black. Later, they will present them as being purchased by them to support security agencies in the state”
Omipidan’s post accused the current government of preparing to parade the vehicles as newly acquired assets rather than owning up to their inherited status.
In his rebuttal, Rasheed accused the Oyetola administration of abandoning the vehicles throughout its four-year tenure, leaving them non-operational and exposed to the elements.
He underscored Adeleke’s commitment to state security, noting that rehabilitating the carriers aligns with his broader goal of ensuring no public asset is wasted on his watch.
The spokesperson also clarified that the vehicles would not only be cosmetically refreshed but would undergo mechanical and functional upgrades to meet operational standards, although detailed technical specifications were not disclosed.
The clash reflects deeper partisan tensions in Osun politics, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regularly trade accusations over infrastructure legacies
Governor Adeleke, who unseated Oyetola in the 2022 election, has frequently highlighted inherited projects to showcase continuity, while the APC has accused him of overstating his administration’s achievements.
This latest row over the APCs taps into public concerns about security resources and fiscal transparency, with both sides vying to shape voter perceptions ahead of future polls.
The Adeleke administration plans a formal ceremony to unveil the first 11 rehabilitated carriers, marking Phase One of the project. Phase Two, covering the remaining 11 vehicles, is expected to follow in quick succession.
Observers will be watching to see whether the vehicles become fully operational assets for Osun’s security agencies or remain symbolic gestures caught in political crossfire.
Ultimately, the public will judge the exercise on its tangible impact on state security and the degree of transparency demonstrated by the governor’s office.
