- Safiu Kehinde
The African Democratic Congress’ National Secretary and former Osun state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has accused the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, of wasting N1 billion investment he initiated in Iwo town out of envy.
Aregbesola said the fund which was invested in construction of schools across the ancient town was abandoned by Oyetola who succeeded him as governor of the state.
The former Minister of Interior made the allegation while addressing mammoth crowd of supporters during the ADC governorship campaign rally at Iwo on Tuesday.
Speaking on the reason why Osun people need to reject the Oyetola-led Osun All Progressives Congress at the forthcoming governorship election, Aregbesola recounted how he had initiated the school projects in the town with just chairs and fence left to complete the project before he left office.
He accused Oyetola, his successor, of abandoning the project which ended up being vandalised out of envy and strife.
Aregbesola held that the APC’s administration in the state under Oyetola was full of evil deeds as he warned the residents against voting them back to power.
‘We built schools with just chairs and fence left to complete them. They vandalised the schools rather than completing them.
‘When the community leaders went to meet them, they said they should back and meet Aregbe who built the schools.
‘Was it Aregbe’s money that was used in building the schools. That was how they wasted Iwo’s N1 billion investment. Rebuilding those schools now will cost multi-billions of Naira.
‘They deprived Iwo of its benefit out of envy and strife.
‘Their evil deeds were so much that I was surprised when they came out to contest. Their regime was filled with evil.’ He said.
The ADC National Secretary also threw shades at the Ademola Adeleke-led administration.
He maintained that the current administration has not done enough to deserve being re-elected.
Aregbesola held that governance goes beyond road constructions as he cited the spate of insecurity in the state under the Adeleke-led administration.
‘Those who we think will do better, you’ve seen all they can do. Governance is not limited to road construction. It is all encompassing.
‘Any administration that cannot guarantee safety of lives is not an administration.’ He said.
Aregbesola recounted his accomplishments during his time in office.
He reminded the ADC supporters of interventions in the health sector and welfare of the citizens.
The ex-minister claimed his administration was the first administration to curb the menace of mentally derailed people on the street by providing adequate care for them.
He also recalled his donation of 49 ambulances to tackle health emergencies across the state as well as the payment of examination fees for secondary school students.
‘When we were in power, everywhere was at peace. I told Kabiyesi that before we took over power, all the streams here were clogged. We cleared everything when we came to power.
‘We are the first administration to get rid of mentally derailed people from the street and take care of them.
‘These are the little things we did that many don’t remember again.
‘We donated money to the elderly and deployed 49 ambulances to take care of them. No state ever did that in Nigeria.
‘Several pregnant women gave birth in our ambulance.
‘These are few things from what we did.
‘We are the last administration to pay for students’ WAEC and NECO fees. Child education is government’s responsibility not the parent.’ He said.
Aregbesola urged the supporters to rally behind the ADC candidate for the August 15 governorship election, Najeem Salam.
He however encouraged the supporters to collect any inducement offered to them by the other political parties but cast their votes for the ADC at the poll.
‘We implore you all, we have 12 days left. If they offer you money, collect it and spend it. They curses is of no effect to you. Collect their money and vote for us.’ Argebesola said.