Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has launched a scathing attack on former governor Rauf Aregbesola, accusing him of leaving behind a trail of debt, unpaid salaries, and failed projects during his eight-year tenure.
Aregbesola, who recently visited Osogbo to mobilize support for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2026 governorship election, reportedly boasted about unseating Adeleke at the polls.
Reacting in a strongly worded statement on Monday through his spokesperson Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke described Aregbesola’s administration (2010–2018) as “the worst in Osun history.”
“A man who left a legacy of huge state debt, half salary, scam learning tablets (Opon Imo) and several fanciful, inflated, uncompleted projects,” Adeleke said.
He accused Aregbesola of displaying “audacity” despite having caused widespread hardship, adding that his administration had already paid 28 months of half salaries and cleared ₦60 billion in pension debt inherited from the ex-governor.
Adeleke highlighted achievements under his own administration:
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Over 200km of roads constructed
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Rehabilitation of 200+ schools and health centers
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Free health insurance for 30,000 pensioners
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Over 60,000 medical surgeries completed
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Resuscitation of abandoned university projects
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Establishment of the University of Ilesa
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40% reduction in Osun’s debt burden — all without borrowing
The governor challenged Aregbesola to assess projects like the Palace–Brewery road in Ilesa, the Ile-Ife and Osogbo flyovers, and the dualisation of roads in Iwo, which Adeleke said were either failed or neglected under the former minister of interior.
“No voter in Osun is ready for a return to the dark days,” Adeleke asserted, predicting that 2026 would be “payback time” for the former governor and his new party.
As of press time, Aregbesola’s spokesperson and key figures from the Omoluabi Progressives faction have not responded to the governor’s statement.
