Osun Monarchs Vindicate Aregbesola on Alleged Financial Mismanagement

***Advocate for Maximized Tax Revenues***

The traditional rulers in Osun have cleared the air on the lingering allegation of financial mismanagement, administrative ineptitude and recklessness leveled against the current administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola by the members of the opposition.

The royal father gave the vindication in their separate remarks while playing a host on the delegation of Osun State Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, led by the state Chairman, Comrade Amitolu Shittu.

In his address, the Timi of Edeland, Oba Muniru Adesola Lawal while receiving the state leadership of PCRC, expressed disappointment in what he described as unfounded, baseless and frivolous the allegation of financial recklessness purportedly credited to the members of the opposition parties against Governor Aregbesola of Osun, affirming that the current economic hardship was not in anyway the fault of Governor Aregbesola.

The royal father who attributed the present economic complications to what he described as the effects of negligence of the past administrations in the country, saying Nigeria wouldn’t have been in this economic mess if the past governments had diversified the nation’s God-given abundant resources.

The traditional ruler who commended Governor Aregbesola for repositioning the state to the path of greatness among its peers in spite the challenges posed by the present economic situation, said Governor Aregbesola has proven his weights as a true leader whose passion for development of his state can never be distorted.

Identifying some of the successes recorded by the present administration, Oba Lawal said the government of Governor Aregbesola has prudently managed the resources of the state for the general well being of the citizenry, adding that his laudable achievements can never be over-emphasized.

The royal father further explained that the present administration has demonstrated high sense of commitment towards the plights of the masses, affirming that the current administration had also maximized the little resources of the state for the betterment of all.

Oba Lawal lamented over the state of the nation’s economy especially its effects on the life of the states of the federation, reiterating that had it been the past administration had looked beyond the oil boom, Nigeria would have been the best among its peers in the world.

The traditional ruler expressed optimistic in the agricultural potentials which according to him has the capacity to take the nation to the greatest heights of economic prosperity.

Oba Lawal who recounted back to early 50s when the economic main stay of Nigeria was purely on agriculture and solid mineral, adding that in spite this non-oil sector, the entire country was successfully governed.

The royal father commended the Late Obafemi Awolowo for his genuine foresight and undaunting selfless efforts  which according to him brought Nigeria and Africa to the frontline of socio-political and economic liberation in the world.

Oba Lawal said the downward trend in the global prices of crude oil was a signal to the fact that the time has come where a nation could only succeed through productivity, industrialization and commercialization.

“I want to say emphatically that the current economic hardship is not the fault of Governor Aregbesola because we all know that the prices of crude oil has dropped sharply in the international market and this downturn has culminated to the present situation.

“The current government in the state has been doing its best in all areas of the economy especially on security as we all know that our state is one of the peaceful states in Nigeria.

“People should stop blaming or pointing faulty fingers at Mr. Governor for this because to me it is not his fault. What we need to do now is to extend our support and collaboration to the Governor as obedient citizens and as well perform our civic duties to government with regular tax payment”, Oba Lawal stated.

The traditional ruler who described tax as grease that lubricates the wheel of progress, canvassing support for the current government in Nigeria especially Osun state.

He therefore urged the current government to also look inward and go back to the economic drawing board so as to facilitate the desired socio-economic prosperity and political sustainability in the country.

Also in their separate remarks, the Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi and Alayegun of Ode-Omu, Oba Lamidi Oke, eulogized Governor Aregbesola for prioritizing security and education in the state, saying his efforts on the sectors had impacted meaningfully in the lives of the people.

The duo maintained that the procurement of security facilities by the current government had reduced drastically the rate of crime in the state.

The royal fathers further stated that the provision of security vehicles by the state government has helped to reawaken the security consciousness of the people in their towns, adding that the noble initiatives has equally gone a long way towards the protection of lives and property of their subjects.

They said the current government has supported the state with adequate security apparatus and necessary equipment which according to them had rescued the state from all forms of crimes.

The traditional rulers stated that the kind gesture of Mr. Governor on security most importantly the provision of Armour Personnel Carriers, APC, to all the security agencies across the Local Governments in the state has really helped to stem the tide of insecurity in their various communities.

The duo further remarked that the drastic security measures taken by the present administration has positioned the state to be one of the peaceful states in Nigeria, saying for that initiatives, the present administration ought to be commended.

The royal fathers however condemned the allegation of financial mismanagement leveled against the State Governor by a section of the public, saying instead of pointing fingers of blames on Mr. Governor or anyone whatsoever, there is a need for the people to study the circumstances around the nation’s economy which according to them culminated to the present situation.

They therefore advised the people to remain hopeful and prayerful for quick economic recovery of the state and Nigeria at large.

Meanwhile, the monarchs who early commended the leadership and members of the State Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC for their prompt security intervention in the state, said their productive and proactive contributions towards the actualization of a secured state had yielded meaningful results in years past.Advocate for Maximized Tax Revenues