Both Aregbesola And Oyetola Are My Benefactors–Kehinde Raji

An Osogbo-born philanthropist, Engr Kehinde Raji has said he never collected money from any politician to mobilize for political rally or campaign in Osun state.

Engr. Raji who is popularly called as Aaraj cautioned those people attaching him with politicians in the state, saying is living on his hard work and sweat.

The humanitarian said this on Thursday evening at his residence in Osogbo, Osun State capital during a programme tagged, “An Evening With Aaraj”. Focus on (The Challenge of political succession: Power tussles between predecessors and incumbent in Nigeria), in celebration of his birthday August 13th, 1972.

According to him, “Don’t attach me with any politicians. I am not owing anyone of them and I will never take a dime from politicians to mobilize for them.

“I have never gotten any contract from the Osun State government, whether past or present. I have never had any relationship with any of the state accountants whether present or past. The only things I do here is when someone has been awarded a contract and needs an expert to handle it for him. That’s only time I come in.

“Let me state here that Oyetola and Aregbesola are like father figures to me and I’ll continue to appreciate them. God announced me in Osun State during the administration of former Governor Aregbesola in 2012 and I want to say that for that, I’ll continue to appreciate him. Oyetola, while serving as Chief of Staff, helped me to get my hanging funds after over three months.

“I have no interest in politics. My people are too poor and my priority now is to uplift them to a level where they can get three square meals. This is my priority today not politics,” the Chief of Executive Officer of Aaraj Group said.

“I’m not bothered about the controversies surrounding my activities in the State. Whatever anyone says is his or her opinion. I don’t feel bothered and I believe the controversies will go down soon.” 49-year-old Raji added.

One of the keynote speaker, Comrade Wale Adebisi, who spoke on the theme of the event, “challenge of political succession” took the audience down the memory lane and explained what transpired during the military regime. He explained that the crisis facing the political space and political actors in Nigeria were creations of the ruling class.

Other panelists who spoke at the event are Dr Lekan Ogunyemi of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Legal practitioner and immediate past Chairman of Osogbo chapter of Nigeria Bar Association, Ramon Okunade among others.

Present at the event were youths from the three senatorial districts of Osun, politicians from all divides, human rights advocates, students, past beneficiaries of Aaraj empowerment programme and many others