Osun ACN, PDP feud over farmland project, others

THE Osun State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the people of the state to resist alleged attempt by the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to make the state “an extension and annex of Lagos State.”

In a statement by the party’s Director of Publicity and Strategy, Diran Odeyemi, the PDP alleged that Governor Rauf Aregbesola had started implementing an agenda to include Osun State in the “expansionist programme” of the ACN “National Leader not only through awards of contracts to mainly Lagosians but also selling large portions of land in the state to Lagos State government.”

But in a reaction, the ACN said the accusation was coming from “idle people who are still nursing the pains inflicted on them by the result of the last general elections.”

The party said contrary to the insinuation, “the administration of Aregbesola is serious minded and would not enter into any agreement with any individual or government without first placing the interest of Osun above any other consideration.”

Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Sunday Akere said: “It is not out of order for any individual or state to invest in Osun in line with Aregbesola’s agenda to export agricultural products from the state to Lagos State and thereby boost its revenue base.”

Meanwhile, a PDP chieftain in Osun and two-time Senator, Iyiola Omisore has condemned the Aregbesola administration, alleging that the ACN government had failed to meet the yearnings of the populace after one year in office.

Speaking over the weekend at his country home in Ile-Ife, Omisore said Aregbesola had “failed to deliver the mega promises he made the people during his electioneering campaign.”

“What we have witnessed so far from the ACN is undue bravado, rascality and propaganda that have nothing to do with good governance that could put bread on the table of the citizens,” Omisore said.

Meanwhile, Aregbesola has said that but for the intervention of God and the unflinching support of the Osun people, the state would have descended into chaos through the action of his political adversaries.

The governor stated this when the League of Imams and Alfas, South-West, Edo and Delta, led by its President-General, Sheikh Mustapha Olayiwola Ajisafe, paid him a courtesy visit yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital.

The State Security Service (SSS), in a secret report, had reportedly alleged that Aregbesola planned to Islamise the state and secede from the country.

But Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State over the weekend said there was nothing wrong in a state governor making a flag for his state.

Ajimobi, who spoke against the backdrop of allegations to secede by Aregbesola, described the claim as “senseless and unthinkable.”

He added: “It is a very pedestrian accusation and I think Nigerians are wiser now; nobody can deceive them with all those insinuations. Those behind the rumours were disgruntled politicians who were feeling jittery over the outstanding performance of Aregbesola. In fact, I am going to start flying my state flag from next week.”

And, the Civil Society Coalition Initiative and Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) have warned that it would not tolerate any attempt on the life of Aregbesola, who they referred to as a “performer.”

Speaking with reporters during a protest match in Lagos, Conveners of the groups, Mr. Ismail Olawale and Buna Isiak, stated that the governor was carrying out genuine programmes aimed at changing the lives of the Osun people as enshrined in the Constitution.