AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has launched a blistering attack on his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, branding his eight-year rule as the worst in the history of the state.
Adeleke’s condemnation followed comments made by Aregbesola during a meeting with supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Osogbo on Sunday, where the former governor boasted that the party would unseat Adeleke in the 2026 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke said Aregbesola lacked the moral standing to speak on governance, accusing him of presiding over a legacy of economic hardship, fiscal recklessness, and administrative failure.
“The empty boast of Mr. Aregbesola about 2026 is a symptom of a troubled mind, haunted by the suffering he inflicted on millions of Osun people through his harsh policies and mismanagement,” Adeleke said.
He accused the former governor of inflicting pain on civil servants by introducing the controversial half salary policy, misappropriating contributory pension funds, and withholding workers’ cooperative deductions.
“A man who should be apologizing for years of maladministration now dares to attack a Governor who is actively repairing the damage — paying off the half salary backlog, settling unjustified debts, and restoring workers’ dignity,” the statement added.
Adeleke revealed that his administration has cleared 28 months of the half salaries owed by the Aregbesola government and has settled nearly N60 billion in outstanding pension liabilities.
He also blamed Aregbesola for dragging the state into a debt trap, which he said continues to limit Osun’s financial growth.
“Our people are wise enough to remember that the darkest period in Osun’s history was under Aregbesola. It was a time when pensioners died in penury and many families were thrown into economic despair,” Adeleke said.
He dismissed the former governor’s political ambitions, saying voters in Osun would not allow a return to what he described as “the evil days.”
“No voter in Osun is ready for a return to that era. The people will punish the former governor and his allies at the polls for the suffering they caused,” Adeleke warned.
The fierce exchange between Adeleke and Aregbesola marks a significant escalation in the political rivalry ahead of the 2026 governorship election in the state.
