Former Minister of Interior and two-term Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has fired back at Governor Ademola Adeleke, following the latter’s recent declaration that Aregbesola’s tenure remains “the worst in Osun’s history.”
In a no-holds-barred response, Aregbesola described Adeleke’s attacks as “desperate political manoeuvring” aimed at currying favour from the presidency and gaining acceptance in the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party Adeleke had vehemently denied any interest in joining.
Speaking through his media aide, Ileowo Kikiowo, Aregbesola said:
“We’re not here to trade insults or dignify every provocation. What we stand for is clear — people-first governance. Leadership is about making tough decisions in the interest of the majority. That’s what Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola did, and the results still speak loud and clear.”
He outlined key achievements during his administration, including:
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Over 1,200 km of roads constructed, with 600 km dedicated to rural communities.
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Construction of 3,685 new classrooms across the state.
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Support for 27,000 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
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Empowerment of 60,000 youths through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES).
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Protection of jobs during tough economic periods, ensuring junior civil servants got full pay while senior officers made temporary sacrifices.
“Over 700,000 people were lifted out of poverty, and 1.59 million jobs were created. These aren’t guesses. They are facts backed by data from independent institutions like NBS and UNDP,” Aregbesola’s team added.
Taking a dig at Adeleke’s style of governance, Kikiowo said:
“What is their record? Empty attacks. Trying to rewrite history and throwing stones to gain presidential attention. That’s not leadership — that’s desperation.”
Also reacting, another media aide to Aregbesola, Mr. Sola Fasure, claimed Adeleke’s constant attacks were part of an orchestrated plot to “worm his way into APC”, ahead of the 2026 governorship election in the state.
Fasure, in a now-viral Facebook post, wrote:
“A new low: Attacking Aregbesola in order to be accepted by APC. I am not sure they still want you!”
His comments followed Adeleke’s latest tirade, where, in a statement signed by his spokesperson Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor alleged that Aregbesola left a trail of “inhumane maladministration” that Osun is still struggling to recover from.
According to Rasheed:
“The former Minister [Aregbesola] is making noise about 2026 when Osun people are still healing from the economic wounds and debt burdens he left behind. Osun rejects his brand of governance.”
Aregbesola, however, dismissed the criticism, stating that his legacy in Osun remains unmatched, even as those “seeking favour in Abuja” try to erase it.
“You can’t feed the people with insults. You can’t build schools with blame games. You can’t attract investors with bitterness. That’s the difference between leadership and propaganda.”
With political tensions rising ahead of 2026, insiders suggest this is only the beginning of what could be a bitter war of narratives between two of Osun’s most powerful political figures.
