*BRING BACK OUR STANDARD QUALITY STREETLIGHTS POLES, OSUN PEOPLE TELLS ADELEKE* Although certain individuals, especially supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun dislike vocal opposition but it is vital to confront the flagrant mismanagement of Osun's public funds and assets by their preferred governor. As protectors of the people's interests that we are, we must emphasize government accountability and transparency. This particular one is not driven by partisan politics or biases; rather, it is a call for openness and fairness. Under Senator Adeleke's leadership, Osun government has undertaken the project of replacing conventional electricity-powered streetlights with solar-powered alternatives. This is a prudent decision by the government, and I commend them for it. That is a commendable step towards keeping pace with modernity. Solar powered streetlights are cheaper and affordable. Hence, the general preference for its use nowadays by government, private institutions and discerning individuals. However, the shameful, disheartening and terrible news about the Adeleke’s installed solar streetlights is the poor quality of poles upon which the solar pannel were raised. Few of the galvanized blue colored painted poles were able to withstand the first or second rainstorms of the season and at just two weeks after their installations. They caved in to winds due to their very poor and substandard quality. Also, at its two weeks old many of the solar panels had stopped producing lights thereby raising concerns about their durability and efficiency in spite of the mouth watering cost government is said to have quoted for the project. Unconfirmed figure put the cost of this project at billions of Naira. It is however noteworthy that the metal poles installed streetlghts by the previous military administration, which last governed in 1999, remain standing even after its 26 years, having withstood worst of windstorms even vehicular impacts on occasions or as the case may be. That the government via its contractors had decided to remove these quality poles and replaced them with their own is not a major concern here. After all, it is a matter of preference. But where the removed poles which ran into thousands went and what will become of them is the Osun public concern. Osun, the people won’t forget, has suffered before the disappearance of many of its properties during past administration in the state and which includes pipes worth billions of Naira. But the difference was that it was water and not electricity pipes then. Perhaps this is why the people are becoming concerned over the government decision to remove and replace a standard quality streetlights poles with substandard ones and without no explanation as to what is their location and intentions for the removed ones. Acording to the people, to buy the quantity and quality of the removed poles today from the market will involve emptying whole of Osun state annual budget. Hence they asked that the government should bring back their standard quality streetlights poles. Akoni Oodua Ayeniromo Kapoo de Tutti 20 May, 2025