The political atmosphere in Oyo State witnessed a sharp exchange of words following a public rebuke by Hon. Salaudeen Kabeer Adebayo directed at Hon. Shittu Ibrahim over alleged attempts to weaponize religion ahead of the upcoming elections.
The controversy stems from statements made by Hon. Shittu during a recent gathering to mark the Maolud Nabiyy celebration, where he reportedly urged Muslim attendees to reject any political party fielding a Christian gubernatorial candidate. During the same event, Shittu allegedly downplayed the administrative efforts of Governor Seyi Makinde, attributing the facilitation of a major local school project solely to the World Bank.
In a swift counter-statement, Hon. Kabeer Adebayo, a prominent grassroots leader and community development advocate in Saki West, dismissed Shittu’s comments as both divisive and factually misleading.
“Politics and democratic representation must transcend religious weaponization,” Adebayo stated, emphasizing that public infrastructure—such as roads, hospitals, and schools—does not discriminate based on the religious identity of its users. He urged political figures to focus on governance, equity, and communal welfare rather than resorting to cheap sectarian sentiments.
Addressing the disputed school project, Adebayo clarified the mechanics of international development financing, noting that global institutions like the World Bank rely heavily on the institutional framework, counterpart funding, and political will of the host state.
“The World Bank does not operate in an institutional vacuum. It partners with competent, credible state leadership,” Adebayo noted. He challenged Shittu’s narrative by asking rhetorically if anyone at the World Bank could have bypassed the state government to deliver the project without Governor Makinde’s direct facilitation.
Adebayo credited the Makinde administration and the state’s project management frameworks for actively attracting and executing strategic partnerships that directly benefit grassroots communities. He added that the attendees at the Maolud Nabiyy event were “fully sensitized” to these realities, proving that the electorate is discerning and capable of separating tangible achievements from political distractions.
Local political observers note that Adebayo’s public rebuttal highlights a growing resistance among emerging leaders in Oyo State against the use of identity politics, signaling a push toward issue-based campaigns centered on measurable development.
