‘Osun won’t return to era of pain, debt’ – Adeleke fires back at Aregbesola

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has hit back at former Governor Rauf Aregbesola over recent comments suggesting a possible return to power in 2026, declaring that the people of Osun have not forgotten the hardship endured during Aregbesola’s tenure.

In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke accused Aregbesola of leaving behind a legacy of “huge debt, half salaries, scam learning tablets (Opon Imo), and several inflated, uncompleted projects.”

Describing Aregbesola’s administration as “the worst in Osun’s history,” Adeleke said the former governor should be offering public apologies rather than threatening a political comeback. He called Aregbesola’s remarks “the symptom of a troubled mind haunted by the suffering he inflicted.”

“Mr. Aregbesola’s wickedness against workers, public servants, and the people of Osun knows no bounds,” the statement read. “A man who introduced half salary, misapplied the contributory pension fund, and misused cooperative deductions should be ashamed to attack a governor now clearing his mess.”

Adeleke said his administration has already paid 28 months of half salaries owed to workers and cleared over N60 billion in pension debt accumulated under the Aregbesola government.

He added that his government has achieved more in less than two years than the previous administration did in eight, without borrowing for infrastructure. He cited reductions in the state debt profile, confirmation from the Debt Management Office, and delivery of over 200 kilometers of roads, rehabilitation of schools, and free health insurance as evidence.

“If Aregbesola wants to talk about performance, let him examine the dualisation of Palace to Brewery Junction in Ilesa, which he failed to complete. He should also note the ongoing flyover projects in Ile-Ife and Osogbo, and the dualisation in Iwo,” Adeleke stated.

The governor reaffirmed his commitment to people-centered governance and promised that the state would never return to what he called the “era of pain, debt, and deceit.”