How Adebayo Adelabu Missed the Brightest Chance to Win Oyo’s Heart: When Power Meets Silence
In Nigerian politics, power is not just about office — it’s about presence. And in Oyo State, where political loyalty thrives on visibility, generosity, and grassroots connection, Adebayo Adelabu’s tenure as Minister of Power remains a paradox: technically impressive on paper, but emotionally absent in the hearts of his people.
Since his appointment, the former Central Bank Deputy Governor has overseen key national energy initiatives, including substation upgrades, mini-grid deployments, and policy reforms. Yet, on the home front, particularly in Ibadan and other Oyo communities, many citizens still struggle to identify one tangible intervention that directly improved their lives.
Promises of Power, Reality of Darkness
Across Oyo State, electricity challenges remain a daily nightmare. In areas like Apete, Alaro, and Moniya, residents recount months of total blackout, failed transformer repairs, and repeated pleas to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) with little or no response.
Ironically, IBEDC’s much-publicized transformer repair workshop at Eleyele — unveiled to reduce downtime and enhance power supply — has become, in public perception, more of a graveyard than a solution. Faulty transformers from different communities are reportedly left unattended for weeks, sometimes months, leaving neighborhoods in prolonged darkness.
In a state that produced the country’s Minister of Power, this disconnect feels like a missed opportunity. A single ministerial intervention — an inspection visit, an emergency repair fund, or a symbolic restoration of light in a few affected areas — could have transformed frustration into admiration. But instead, silence prevailed.
Adelabu’s National Achievements, Local Blind Spots
Objectively, Adelabu has made notable strides at the federal level. According to verified government and media sources:
A 63 MVA / 132/33 kV mobile substation was commissioned at Eleyele, Ibadan, adding 50.4 MW to the national grid.
Plans were announced for a 330 kV substation at Asejire and the upgrade of Oyo town’s 32 kV substation to improve voltage and stability.
A 90 kW solar mini-grid was donated to the Emmanuel Alayande University of Education in Oyo.
The long-delayed Ogbomoso substation was reportedly completed and awaiting energisation.
These are commendable steps. But while they represent policy-level success, they have not translated into the kind of visible, emotionally resonant interventions that endear public officials to their home constituencies.
Infrastructure projects, though impactful, are often abstract to the average citizen. In contrast, smaller, community-focused gestures — transformer donations, scholarships, empowerment drives — create direct social bonds. For Adelabu, that emotional connection remains conspicuously missing.
The Politics of Frugality and Perception
Oyo’s political culture is unique. Its people often judge leaders not just by performance metrics but by accessibility and generosity. “Street politics” in the state rewards politicians who are physically and financially present at grassroots levels.
Adelabu, by contrast, carries the image of a disciplined technocrat — efficient, ambitious, and exacting, yet perceived by many as frugal and detached. The reputation dates back to his 2019 gubernatorial campaign, during which several accounts surfaced of him allegedly scolding supporters who demanded financial assistance at rallies.
Whether true or exaggerated, such stories have shaped a persistent public narrative: that Adelabu is a man of intellect, not empathy; a leader who talks reform but rarely extends a helping hand. In a state where philanthropy equates to political affection, that perception is politically damaging.
IBEDC and the Missed Moment of Leadership
Few issues define the failure of local power governance in Oyo as clearly as IBEDC’s inefficiency. From delayed repairs to allegations of extortion for transformer retrieval, residents routinely express anger and helplessness.
This was the perfect arena for Adelabu to show leadership beyond press conferences — to directly intervene, summon accountability, and offer emergency solutions to restore light in key affected zones.
Even a symbolic gesture — visiting Eleyele’s transformer workshop or resolving a high-profile blackout in Ibadan — would have demonstrated empathy and ownership. Instead, IBEDC continues to absorb public outrage while the Minister of Power’s office remains publicly distant from these grassroots crises.
Between National Duty and Local Loyalty
Defenders of Adelabu argue that his silence in local matters stems from his commitment to national reform. They cite his ongoing work on Nigeria’s 20,000 MW generation target, renewable energy expansion, and distribution framework overhaul as evidence that he is prioritising long-term solutions over populist optics.
Yet, politics is not purely technocratic. While his national projects may improve the grid in years to come, politics rewards immediacy. The people of Oyo want to see results they can touch — not promises in policy documents.
A simple intervention in his constituency would not undermine his federal responsibilities; it would strengthen them by humanising his leadership. But that balance remains elusive.
The Road to 2027: A Lesson in Local Love
As 2027 approaches, rumours about Adelabu’s renewed interest in the Oyo governorship race are already surfacing. If he intends to pursue it, reconnecting with his base will be crucial.
Oyo’s political loyalty is transactional — rooted in empathy and sustained through generosity. The absence of consistent local engagement may prove to be his greatest vulnerability.
Restoring power to darkened communities, supporting market women through empowerment drives, or providing educational grants to youth are not just charity — they are politically strategic investments that rebuild trust.
Conclusion: Power Without Presence Is Power Lost
Adebayo Adelabu remains one of Oyo State’s brightest minds — articulate, reform-driven, and nationally respected. Yet, his relationship with his people remains dimly lit.
The absence of visible interventions across Ibadan and other parts of Oyo is more than a bureaucratic oversight; it is a lost opportunity to transform perception into loyalty. In a state that measures leadership not by policy papers but by proximity to the people, silence can look like neglect, and efficiency without empathy feels like arrogance.
Until Adelabu learns to bridge that divide, Oyo may continue to see him not as the son who brings light home, but as the technocrat who switched it off and forgot to return.
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