Aregbesola tasks critics on fair assessment of tenure

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has urged critics to consider other parameters in assessing his tenure.

Aregbesola, who urged them not to use the issue of outstanding salaries in rating his performance in office, reacted to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s, claim that his tenure was a failure.

He spoke in Osogbo at the launch of the “State Of Osun Development Plan (2019-2028)” put together by the Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development.

According to him, it amount to gross irresponsibility for the PDP to say his administration has failed, arguing that all credible international and national organisations and individuals have rated Osun high in terms of development.

The outgoing governor said the PDP, which thinks good governance is all about payment of salaries, to the neglect of other sectors do not have the required knowledge to be in power.

He said: “The way some people, especially the PDP thinks is very embarrassing. Do they have the moral standing to say our government is a failed one? No. They simply do not have the clue on how to run government.”

“Osun, in spite of the lean economic resources it is facing, has been rated the state with the best in terms of tax payment, least poverty state in the country, least misery-hit state, and state with least number of unemployment in the country.”

The governor said it was not a mean feat for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to rate Osun to be state with least rate of poverty and unemployment among others.

In a related development, Aregbesola said his administration has bequeathed a worthy legacy of sound learning and character to Osun pupils using calisthenics as a tool.

He said this ‎at the 2018 grand finale School Calisthenics Competition organised ‎by the Department of Social and Grassroots Mobilisation and Guidance, in the governor’s office.

The governor added that his administration has rebranded and ‎placed Osun on the path of healthy, growing, economic development and prosperity, as reflected in the successes of his policies and programmes.