A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Yemi Adediwura, has strongly criticized what he describes as the continued marginalization of Ile-Ife, Osun State, by the party at both the state and federal levels, despite the town’s unwavering loyalty over the years.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Professor of Education at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, lamented the lack of political recognition and infrastructural development in Ile-Ife under APC’s 12-year rule in Osun State and its eight-year leadership at the federal level.
He also decried the party’s silence regarding the abduction of Dr. Rauf Adeniji, the APC National Director of Administration, who has been in captivity for over two months.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State and at the national level must take a moment to reflect on the political dynamics in Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race. The recent governorship and general elections sent a clear message: the anticipated block vote from Ile-Ife did not materialize,” he stated.
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Professor Adediwura attributed this electoral shift to years of neglect and marginalization, noting that despite Ile-Ife’s consistent support for APC, the town has received little in return.
“The fundamental reason for this was the palpable neglect of the town for 12 years of APC’s governance in Osun State and eight years at the federal level.
"For over a decade, the people of Ile-Ife remained loyal to APC, standing by the party through thick and thin. Yet, the reward for this loyalty has been an unfortunate tale of marginalization and neglect.”
He highlighted the lack of meaningful infrastructure projects, abandoned road constructions, and the exclusion of qualified Ile-Ife indigenes from political appointments.
“The roads that should have been completed remain abandoned, infrastructure development has been slow, and political appointments have bypassed qualified and deserving Ife indigenes.
"Despite this, when the last presidential election came, the indigenes of Ife Kingdom once again showed their unwavering commitment to the APC cause. Our people went all out to ensure the party’s victory.”
However, he questioned the party’s reward for this loyalty, stating that Ile-Ife has been sidelined in the current APC-led federal administration.
“But what has been the reward for their sacrifice? In the current APC-led administration, Ile-Ife has been left out in the cold.
"No Ife indigene has been given a substantive position of influence in the federal government, leaving many supporters disillusioned and questioning their allegiance to a party that has not reciprocated their dedication.”
Beyond political neglect, Professor Adediwura condemned the party’s apparent indifference to the plight of Dr. Rauf Adeniji, an APC stalwart from Ile-Ife, who remains in the custody of kidnappers.
“To compound the disappointment, the only notable Ife son at the national level of the party, Dr. Rauf Adeniji, APC’s Director of Administration, has been languishing in the den of kidnappers for over two months.
"Yet, the party has been largely silent, offering little in the way of concerted effort or urgency to secure his release. This silence is deafening and speaks volumes about the neglect Ife Kingdom has suffered under APC’s watch.”
He warned that the APC’s treatment of Ile-Ife could have serious consequences in the forthcoming 2026 Osun governorship election, especially as the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP)-led state government has made significant inroads in the town.
“With another Osun governorship election fast approaching, APC must ask itself some critical questions. How does the party plan to campaign in Ile-Ife? What message will be taken to the people who have felt ignored for so long?
"How do we convince Ife indigenes to vote against a governor who has appointed four commissioners and several board chairmen from Ife Kingdom?
"How do we ask them to turn their backs on a government that is actively completing the federal road project abandoned by APC and rehabilitating intra-town roads neglected for years? The APC must acknowledge the realities on the ground and make swift amends.”
Professor Adediwura urged the APC leadership to urgently reconnect with the people of Ile-Ife by addressing their grievances and ensuring their inclusion in political appointments and infrastructural development.
“The party must re-engage with the people of Ife Kingdom, address their grievances, and ensure that their voices are not just heard but acted upon.
"Developmental projects, strategic appointments, and tangible political inclusion must be prioritized to rebuild trust and confidence. APC remains a party of progress, but progress must be felt by all,” he stressed.
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