An Osun based non-governmental organisation, The Osun Masterminds (TOM), has described Governor Ademola Adeleke's spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed as an artful dodger of intelligent conversations who has made a habit of branding critics of the Adeleke government as opposition figures, instead of addressing whatever issues are raised.
In a statement released by Professor Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, who is the Executive Director of TOM, the organisation advised Olawale to take a course in public relations so he can stop disgracing the State and his Principal.
His words, ''Our attention was drawn to a release purportedly authored by Spokesperson to the Osun State Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, in which he derided our patriotic contributions to the process of governance in our dear State.
''Our initial thought was to ignore the irritation altogether, but as Yorubas say, “taa ba fi were sile pelu oku iya e, yoo sun je.” Thus, we have resolved to respond to the issues the Spokesperson raised and lay some matters to rest permanently.
''The public is first advised to note a pattern with Rasheed’s public engagement. He has made a habit of branding critics of the Adeleke government as opposition figures, instead of addressing whatever issues are raised.
''He is an artful dodger of intelligent conversations, known to resort to blackmail, mudslinging and the use of unintelligent words.
''He unleashed the same pattern on us in his response to our June 2024 State of the State address, wherein we advised the Adeleke government to ensure fairness, transparency, and sincerity in the distribution of fertilizers recently disbursed to the States.
''We specifically mentioned that eleven trucks had been received out of thirty expected. We were thus surprised that instead of speaking to the formula that government will use to distribute, to allay our fears, Rasheed in his characteristic ‘Agbero’ behaviour, decided to rush into the gutter and roll in mud.
''We are aware that the fertilizers received constitute just the first batch of the total expected. We insist however, that the distribution, whether of this first batch, or of the entire batch, must be with fairness, transparency, and sincerity.
''There must be no political coloration to the distribution and only true farmers, especially in rural communities, must benefit.
''While also responding to the worries we raised about road constructions ongoing in Osogbo, Rasheed resorted to barbarism, his oft-used character trait, instead of addressing the issues.
''Yes, the Oyetola government awarded the Dele Yes Sir dualization, as part of the Osogbo-Ibadan road reconstruction. But, Oyetola ceased to be Governor since November 2022, and almost two years after, the Contractor is still moving at snail speed, refusing to promptly fulfill the terms of the contract.
''Is the Adeleke government too weak to call an erring contractor to order? If project delivery time is already exceeded and quality of work is clearly sub-par, are those not enough grounds for termination of contract?
''Assuming, without conceding, that there are truly genuine reasons for which the ongoing projects are moving at snail speed, should Rasheed not have addressed those reasons instead of the lengthy hubris he released as a response to us?
''Finally, we notice with great excitement, how Rasheed laced all of the lines in his release with accusations of partisanship. We are not surprised. In fact, we would be surprised if he acted any better. He has labeled anybody and everybody who has dared to criticize the Adeleke government, instead of advancing intellectual engagements.
''Rasheed’s history of unintelligent public engagement compels us to advise him to, as a matter of important personal development, take a course in public relations so he can stop disgracing our State, and his Principal. A course in public relations will help him stop engaging his ‘agidi’ where he should deploy deep intellect.
''We remain undeterred and will continue to engage government, whether Rasheed and his ilk likes it or not''
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