The Osun State government has described former governor Rauf Aregbesola as delusional and hypocritical, accusing him of gross mismanagement during his time in office.
The incumbent government stated this while responding to Aregbesola’s allegation over unpaid salaries, phantom projects, and the 2026 governorship race.
Aregbesola had stated that the 2026 elections may no longer feature the traditional three-party contest, hinting at a potential political realignment and rallying support for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“We are concerned about 2026 in Osun State. We have started the work for next year’s election now,” Aregbesola, who is the interim National Secretary of ADC, told supporters.
However, responding in a statement on Monday, the Osun State Government, through Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, stated that his empty boast is a symptom of a troubled mind.
The statement reads, “The empty boast of Mr Aregbesola about 2026 is a symptom of a troubled mind who sees a wrong vision.
“A man who should be remorseful and tender public apologies for his years of maladministration has the audacity to threaten Governor Adeleke.”
The government accused Aregbesola of introducing half-salaries for civil servants, mismanaging pension funds, and leaving behind massive debt and unfinished, inflated projects.
“Mr Aregbesola’s wickedness against workers, public servants, and Osun people knows no bounds while he wielded state power.
“A man who introduced half salary, misapplied contributory pension funds, and misused state cooperative deductions should be ashamed of his temerity.”
The Adeleke administration detailed what it called its success in repairing the economic and administrative damage left behind by Aregbesola.
According to the government, 28 months of half-salaries have been cleared, and ₦60bn in pension arrears have been paid.
“The present administration has paid close to 60 billion naira in pension debt, a legacy of this same Aregbesola. Pensioners and workers are not praying for a return to the evil days of a bad administrator,” Rasheed stated.