Our intention is not to trade insults or respond to every provocation
Former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola has responded sharply to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s claim that his eight‑year tenure was “the worst in Osun history.” In a statement via aide Ileowo Kikiowo, Aregbesola dismissed the critique as a “tit‑for‑tat” manoeuvre aimed at winning federal favour, adding “our intention is not to trade insults or respond to every provocation.”
The ex‑governor spotlighted key achievements: “Under his leadership, Osun recorded the lowest unemployment rate, lowest poverty rate, and lowest crime rate in Nigeria,” citing independent data from the NBS and UNDP. He also noted the construction of 1,200 km of roads, 3,685 classrooms, support for over 27,000 MSMEs, and empowerment of 60,000 youths through OYES. “Over 700,000 people were lifted out of poverty, and 1.59 million jobs were created through our MSME drive.”
Another aide, Sola Fasure, accused the governor of sinking to a “new low” in a bid to ingratiate himself with the APC, warning that “I am not sure they still want you!”