Aregbesola bids Osun people farewell at last interactive session

As the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state winds down in preparation to handover the mantle of leadership in the state to the governor elect, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola next Tuesday, at the expiration of his two terms in office, the governor on Friday bade farewell to his people at the last official interactive session titled, Ogbeni-Till-Day-Break. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, who witnessed the event, reports that the emotional event was not just an opportunity for people to interact with the governor, but also a moment of stewardship account by the governor who many residents turned out to applaud for his efforts in touching lives in the state.

Though not a new programme, the latest edition of the all night show tagged, Ogbeni-Till-Day-Break, birthed by the Rauf Aregbesola administration in 2011 as a vehicle to allow the people question their governor on policies and air their grievances to ensure commitment to accountability and transparency was one with a difference. The six hours encounter with the governor was not only about promoting good governance and carry people along in a session devoid of barriers or bureaucratic procedures; it was an avenue for people to tell him what they thought of his performance and how they feel about him and his policies.

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Aside the peculiarity of the timing, the event marked a timeline; it was mere days to the expiration of his second term in office at the helm of affairs in the state. And from the reception and warmth with which people ushered him into the venue; fighting security operatives in order to usher their governor in with songs, it was obvious that in spite of diverse running battles he had, Aregbesola is still a man loved by his people.

The parade that heralded his arrival turned the event into a funfair as the incoming governor, Gboyega Oyetola and his deputy, Gboyega Alabi, entered first to be followed by the outgoing deputy governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and then, the governor himself to great applause from the maasive crowd.

And for the governor, it was an emotional event as he got encomiums from even unlikely and unexpected quarters, he could actually say that he had fought a good fight and is ready to take the necessary rest and  leave the government house without delay as he announced  that he would vacate the house yesterday to allow the place to be prepared for the incoming governor.

Answering questions on where he would go after May 27 when he hands over to the new governor, he stated that he is not going to wait till May 27 but will vacate on Monday, May 19 to allow the new governor set the house the way he wants, adding that he will be in Osogbo till May 27 after which, he will be moving to his father’s compound at J69A, Ogbon Arugbo, Ifofin in Ilesa.

“I have been politically active since my secondary school days and I have been an absentee husband for too long, now I want to rest and stay with my wife. I am moving to my father’s house in Ilesa after November 27,” he stated.

According to him, he has no regrets about any action he took in the last eight years as all his decisions were based on how to move the state forward. “If I am given another opportunity, I will not change anything I did, I have no regrets whatsoever, if the party wants to do something different, Ileri Oluwa will do it, the incoming governor will change whatever he thinks should be done differently to suit his style but for me, I stand by all I have done and I have no regrets. Having this kind of popularity for over seven years is not easy. If I am given another four years, I will do the same.

Speaking on what he considered the problem with Nigeria, Aregbesola said indolence is more of a challenge than corruption, adding that indolence is the root of corruption, he argued that laziness rather than corruption constitutes slow pace of socioeconomic advancement in the country.

Aregbesola stated that, “Majority of our people are lazy and indolent, they want to spend money without working for it; they want the best car, live in mansions and live large without sweating for it.”

Responding to questions on why his party lost in Ilesa during the gubernatorial election, Aregesola stated that democracy is responsible for that. “There is nothing responsible for that than democracy; it is the government of the people by the people and for the people. The people made their choice and that is normal, they demonstrated their preference. We lost in Ilesa and won in Osogbo, it is democracy, nothing more than that,” he added.

He however refused to answer questions on rumours being peddled that he and the incoming governor are already having issues, adding that he doesn’t respond to rumours as it is unfounded. However, the incoming governor decided to speak on the issue, adding that he cannot just sit and allow the misconception to continue.

Oyetola stated that he has no issue with the outgoing governor who he described as his leader. “Ogbeni remains my leader, we have never had issues, we don’t have now and we will never have. For eight years, he gave me a chance as his Chief of staff and supported me absolutely to emerge governor-elect. People should not look for issues where there are none; why entertain rumour? This rumour is dead on arrival. What we need is prayers,” Oyetola stated.

Aregbesola further described as his best achievements human capital development, part of which is the O’meal and O’Yes initiatives, adding that all his efforts was to ensure individuals could stand on their feet while collaborating with government to build the state.

And to show their love for the outgoing governor, the people came bearing gifts like the wise men brought for Jesus at birth; the O’Yes cadets turned out massively to show their appreciation to the governor who took 63, 725 youths off the road, adding that they will never forget him. The O’ meal crew also came in their uniform to appreciate Aregbesola for turning around their fortunes.

There were also many individual youths; Ahmed Abdulahi Isola , a student of Timi Agbale College, Ede came to show his appreciation to the governor for always being willing to help them achieve their dreams and not sparing expense in sending them for competition even outside the country to put them at par with their counterparts the world over, adding that he just returned from a competition in Lisbon.

Various groups including traditional rulers also came to show their appreciation for the man who they said left footprints that are too indelible for them to forget in line with the theme of the programme, “An angel is passing by.’

Osun under Aregbesola has indeed registered itself as a state of many first and the people expressed the hope that the incoming governor will not only continue at the tempo but also do more.

And as the countdown begins for Aregesola to move to his J69A, Ogbon Arogbo Compound in Ifofin, Ilesa, it is obvious that he will remain in the memories of the people for a long time.