The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council has launched a fresh attack on Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration, accusing it of allowing some of the State’s most prominent tourism assets to deteriorate through poor maintenance and inadequate investment.
The opposition Party said the condition of major tourist attractions has become a source of concern, warning that internationally recognised heritage sites are being left in a state of neglect at a time Osun is preparing for the grand finale of the annual Osun-Osogbo Festival.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, by Adebayo Adedeji, Secretary of the Media and Publicity Committee and Team Leader of the Digital Media Committee of the Osun APC Governorship Campaign Council, the Party criticised the State Government over the state of infrastructure leading to key tourist destinations.
The Council specifically alleged that the road leading to the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been left in a deplorable condition, creating what it described as an embarrassing impression for local and international visitors expected for the festival.
Adedeji said that instead of serving as a welcoming gateway to one of Africa’s most treasured cultural heritage sites, the approach road now presents a picture of abandonment and neglect.
The APC Campaign Council also criticised the Government’s handling of the Erin-Ijesa (Olumirin) Waterfalls, describing the tourist attraction as abandoned despite earlier assurances by Governor Adeleke that it would be transformed into a world-class destination.
According to the statement, the waterfall, which was discovered in 1140 AD and is renowned for its cool waters, lush surroundings and panoramic view from its seventh level, came under severe public criticism in 2024 over alleged neglect. The Party claimed that although the Governor visited the site and promised its revival, little progress has been made since then.
“As Osun State prepares to host the grand finale of the globally celebrated Osun-Osogbo Festival next week, it is both heartbreaking and embarrassing that the road leading to the revered Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove – one of only two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nigeria – has been left in a deplorable state,” Adedeji said.
The APC argued that tourism remains one of Osun State’s greatest untapped economic opportunities and that governments across the world generate substantial revenue from cultural festivals, heritage sites and eco-tourism.
It maintained that Osun possesses the cultural and natural assets required to become a major tourism destination in Nigeria but alleged that poor planning, neglect and lack of vision have continued to hinder the sector’s growth.
Adedeji further used the statement to promote the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, saying tourism development forms a key part of his 7-Point Prosperity Agenda.
He said that if elected, Oyebamiji would prioritise the rehabilitation of roads leading to heritage sites, preserve cultural assets and develop tourism facilities to international standards.
“By the time the Osun-Osogbo Festival comes around next year, Osun people can look forward with confidence to a Sacred Grove and other tourism assets wearing a splendid new look – befitting their global status and capable of attracting visitors and investments from across Nigeria and the world,” he said.
The statement adds to the growing political exchanges between the APC and the Adeleke administration as preparations intensify ahead of future electoral contests in Osun State.