Osogbo Stakeholders Back Aregbesola, Seeks People’s Support

An Osogbo Stakeholders Forum in Osun State has declared support for Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s efforts in sustaining the state, even in the face of meager resources accruing from federation account to the state.

The forum in a statement issued yesterday by the former commissioner for special duties and regional integration, Hon Ajibola Basiru at a well-attended meeting by political elders, stakeholders and leaders of thoughts in Osogbo Land, said there was need for the people of Osun to support the governor in his bid to deliver on his promises, notwithstanding the economy challenges being witnessing across the country.

According to him, the cash crunch presently experiencing by the state cannot be divorce from the incessant stealing of crude oil under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and sharp fall in crude oil price in the global market.

“Since Nigeria basically depends on proceeds from oil and with alarming stealing of the product by Jonathan’s administration, it is of fact that there is no way states resources would not be affected.

“For instance, in 2011, an average of N1.2trillion were been shared monthly among the three tiers of government as allocation which accrued from sales of crude oil but in 2015 there was a drastic
declined, particularly in October where just N391billion was shared. Now, how would a state such as Osun meet its basic obligations?

“We don’t know why people are putting blames on the governor, even when President Muhammodu Buhari recently confirmed that Nigeria is broke, said the way out of the present economy challenge is diversification from Oil and Gas sector of the economy.

It would be recalled that President Muhammodu Buhari approved bailout fund to states, Osun inclusive because many states could not pay salaries.

However, the main opposition in the state, Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP alleged that the governor diverted the bailout fund for personal use, used the fund to pay contractors and later fixed in the bank, an allegations which had since been debunked by the state government.

“Contrary to the wrong impression deliberately created by the PDP propaganda machinery and its cohorts, the fact of the matter is that at no time did the governor kept or fixed any fund.

“We urged opposition to embrace Aregbesola’s efforts in taking Osun to an enviable status rather than engaging in cheap lies, added that Osun obviously was been vilified because of its role during the build-up to 2015 election.

The forum however charged the party members and Osun people to remain supportive and patient with Aregbesola’s government to consolidate on his achievements and ignore the opposition antics.

Prominent among those who attended the meeting were: the former commissioner, Hon Ajibola Basiru; Fmr SSA on Judiciary, Barr Ibrahim Lawal; APC Leader, Alhaji Badmus Akeem Bolagade; APC Leader, Engr Taofeek Badmus, OPF Coordinator, Mr Adetoye Muthair Akere; Alhaji Amodu; APC Leader, Chief Taye Ajibola Babaawo and all APC ward chairmen, women and you