Hon. Rotimi Makinde, former Member, Federal House of Representatives (Ife Federal Constituency), Osun State bared his mind on Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State in this piece…
“He came, he saw but incapacitated to fully conquer. Perhaps, that is the best summary to give this piece in an attempt to describe the unusual administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, he was simply lucky to have regained his stolen mandate but seems unlucky getting it at a time when the nation’s economy was already nose diving to a sorry state. Notwithstanding, it will certainly go down in history as a man whose first term in office witnessed so many unprecedented and radical performances in the service of governance in Osun State.”
“He is someone who has the “call” to serve his people, for if he was looking for wealth, he was well grounded in Lagos State and already in control of one of the biggest constituencies in Nigeria and indeed he was a serving commissioner in one of the biggest ministries whose budget triple the entire budget of the whole of Osun State. He chose to return to his home state by call, it was at a time the state was being ruled by a General in the army and a no nonsense brigadier commander who had just returned from national security assignment in Mogadishu and a well trained officer who was determined to crush any oppositions of any form.”
“To rescue the state at that time, it therefore required a man with good spirit, plenty of prayers and with a committed “call” to serve and above all someone who is backed with a strong liver “BOLDNESS”. His love for the people of Osun State amongst other developmental mission was what propelled him to jettison his comfortability in Lagos and head to Osun State. His experience and several challenges faced during his sojourn and trials would never be forgotten by any student of history in Nigeria. Though, the then satanic accusations, attacks and series of intimidation faced by him simply made him stronger and it further placed more moral burden on him to do only those things that would please God and mankind.”
“As soon as he assumed office in November 2010, he mopped up whooping 200,000 unemployed graduates off the street of Osun State via a programme tagged “OYES” and many other empowerment programmes. It was unprecedented in the country and indeed a great relief for all and sundry which includes sons and daughters of the oppositions.”
“Good road networks and standard schools with quality school feeding programme became his next targets and was achieved among others. The people of Osogbo and Osun in entirety and indeed every indigene of the state who have great passion for transformation would never forget the tremendeous and noble roles of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for turning the state capital to a megacity fit to be called state capital.”
“The oppositions and even the sponsored critics gave him kudos for the immediate repackaging of a certain loan obtained by his predecessor for six unnecessary stadiums across the state. The loan would have put the state in a monumental catastrophy if not for the wise counsel and intervention of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.”
“If we are today castigating Aregbesola for the delay in the payment of worker’s salaries or not matching his first term achievement, what do we say of Buhari who had no opportunity of having the grip and deep knowledge of how bad the economy was when he took over the mantle of leadership. These people are full of energy and enthusiasm to perform but incapacitated, therefore to condemn them is to foolishly glorified those clever enemies of yesterday who watched our economy sliding into this horrible situation.”
“They were fortunate to be in power during the oil boom but busy themselves in stealing, looting and siphoning the Nation treasury here and there and care not for our soldiers who fights with bare hands while they use pastor’s aeroplane to ferry our money to their Private banks. May I ask, without being bias, should we blame Aregbesola or Buhari for this? No… Their eagles are only flying within their limited feathers and wings.”
“Jesus wept! Jesus wept not because he lacked faith, but because he was full of love. In love, he weeps with those who weep. Both of them must be weeping for they have the desires to work and do all those things that would please God and certainly the arrow peaches through their hearts and indelible mark must be what they are nursing for they never bargain for what they met. If the workers or those “possessed judges” think they are the worst hit, they should better know the politicians who made all these people are also complaining but what can they do? The Messiahs are equally groaning.”