Aregbesola Should Be Emulated – Ojuade

[Defender]

The Osun State governor; Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has been described as a God-sent and caring man, who should be emulated, irrespective of political affiliations, because of his interest in the upliftment of the less-privileged and provisions for the down-throdden in the society.

He has also been described as a man who has the quality of placing the right people in the right positions.

This commendation came on the heels of the recent directives from office of the state government, directing all fuel stations to sell kerosene to the people at the rate of N50:00 per litre.

Honourable Kunle Ojuade; a former Ife-East Vice-Chairmanship candidate under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the 2004 local government elections in Osun State, further disclosed Aregbesola was seen by all as a person who had come to raise the standard of living of citizens in the state through the introduction of various welfarist programme like the OYES, OREAP, O'CLEAN and others.

While recalling that he got to know the governor in 2004 during the inauguration of Oranmiyan group in Ile-Ife, he revealed that he accepted Oranmiyan and the candidature of the governor because he perceived that there was significant relevance in the group's name and also something he could offer the people of the state.

"I accepted Oranmiyan and Aregbesola, not because I have met him personally, but because there was a significant relevance in that name; Oranmiyan. I was quick to know that the group would go far because of the name", he added.

According to the one-time vice-chairmanship candidate, there was initial opposition to Aregbesola's candidature under the aegis of Oranmiyan, due to the fact that some people had already identified themselves with some gubernatorial aspirants in and outside Ife.

As one of the first set of politicians to be aligned to Oranmiyan group, the broadcaster-turned- politician hinted that he was saddled with the responsibility of appointing coordinators for the various local government council areas, which made up Ife land.

Honourable Ojuade explained that prior to the launch of Oranmiyan in Osun State, the initial meetings of the group were held at Aromire Street in Lagos State.

"Then there was no Oranmiyan Group in Osun State. We were holding our meetings on Aromire Street, Lagos State.

Every week, I used to travel to Lagos to attend meetings with fellow members of the group", he stated.

In describing the type of politics obtainable in Ife land, Honourable Ojuade explained that Ife people would go for anyone whom they believed was working in their interests.

"We always tilt towards the same direction and all you need is to convince us that you are working for our interests", he observed.

Honourable Ojuade maintained that the PDP had in 2004 planned an all-out political battle to upstage the AD in Osun State.

He was of the opinion that the Alliance for Democracy won the local government polls in 2004, but for the massive anti-progressive propaganda and rigging by the PDP.

Osun Defender