Oyo Progressive Front Defends Minister Adelabu’s Zonal Consultations, Says Initiative About Leadership, Not Politics
Favour Rotimi
The Oyo Progressive Front (OPF) has dismissed claims that the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, embarked on politically motivated consultations across Oyo State, describing such allegations as “a creative distortion of reality.”
In a statement signed by the group’s State Coordinator, Comrade Ola Ayorinde, and Secretary, Omolola Osundina, the OPF said the minister’s zonal consultations were purely internal All Progressives Congress (APC) activities aimed at strengthening party unity and rebuilding grassroots engagement, not a political campaign.
According to the group, the consultations “involved only party members, with no campaign slogans, no manifestos, and no electoral promises.” The statement noted that the meetings were designed “to rebuild bridges, reinvigorate grassroots participation, and reestablish cohesion after a period of dormancy in the party’s local structure.”
“If listening to party members and encouraging unity now qualifies as a political campaign, then perhaps the dictionary of politics needs an urgent update,” the group said.
The OPF also described Chief Adelabu as a disciplined professional whose track record in both the financial and public sectors speaks against the notion of political recklessness.
“Chief Adelabu’s record speaks for itself. A thoroughbred professional, former Executive Director and CFO of First Bank, and one-time Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, he is far too disciplined—and frankly too prudent—to ‘throw money around’ in the name of politics,” the statement read.
The group further explained that, as Oyo State’s representative in the Federal Executive Council, Chief Adelabu had a duty to engage and brief constituents on developments in the power sector, noting that his interactions were in line with accountability and transparency.
“The improvements in electricity supply across the country are evidence of his focus and dedication to the job, not a backdrop for political theatrics,” the OPF said.
The statement urged critics to emulate the minister’s leadership style instead of misinterpreting his efforts.
“If anyone feels unsettled by the renewed energy within Oyo APC, they are, of course, free to take a page from the Minister’s book and engage the people constructively. Leadership by example shouldn’t be mistaken for ambition,” it added.
The group reaffirmed Chief Adelabu’s commitment to uniting the APC, serving the nation, and delivering tangible results, stressing that “these values will always speak louder than speculation.”
