Encomium
‘It’s mischievious’
‘YOU’RE A LIAR’, Omisore fires back
The last is yet to be seen of the political drama between the incumbent governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer in August 9, 2014 governorship election in the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore as the two gladiators are yet to put an end to their campaign of calmny against each other.
They often exploit every opportunity to abuse each other, all in the interest of Abere, the seat of power for the Home of the Living Spring.
However, the tale that envelopes the political atmosphere in Osun State at the moment is that the sitting governor, Aregbesola has perfected plans to sack some civil servants with a view to lessening the overhead cost of the state.
The purported plan was said to have been premised on the excuse that the Federal Government has reduced the state’s allocation from N4.5 billion to N2.5 billion.
Reacting to the tale on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, Aregbesola said, “My pact with God and the people of Osun is not to sack any worker. If we can retain a glaring enemy, why are we going to sack workers who never offended us or abandoned their jobs? Those peddling the rumour are ignorant and mischievious.”
The engineer turned politician also warned the people of Osun not to sell their votes in the forthcoming elections inorder not to jeopardize the future of their children and generation yet unborn.
“The future of our generation to come begins from you and I. We need solid planning and sincere leaders that will rescue the masses for better tomorrow. We don’t need to sell our right because of our present situation.
“Can a bag of rice, salt or gallon of kerosene solve our problems in this nation? Has our poverty really got to that level? Are they calling us gluttons that will sign off their future because of rice?
“The action of a man without power tells a lot of what his action will be with power. The result of our actions when we sell our votes to the highest bidder is simply translatable to bad leadership which leads to bad government, leading to bad governance, as well as bad system, bad society and which further pollute the country the more.
“If your plan is to sell your vote come August 9, 2014 and 2015, remember your generation as well as the generation yet unborn.”
Omisore, who reacted to Aregbesola’s statements via his Director of Publicity, Mr. Diran Odeyemi insisted that the Ijesa born politician was only being economical with the truth. He added that his plan was to purge the state of some workers, but with the result of Ekiti election, he quickly shelved the plot because he knew it will surely work against him on the day of election. “He is a lair, and all his lies can’t save him that day. He will be disgraced out like Fayemi.”
He alleged further that the governor had also increased tax in Osun which makes life more difficult for the people of the state.
“He won’t tell you the truth. The people of Osun are angry with him at the moment. Aregbesola has increased tax, and there is nothing to show for that. Not only that, he has also caused a kind of disaffection between muslims and Christians in the state since he started demolishing churches, and also with his unguided education policy.
“He only soft pedaled on these because of election, and the majority of people in Osun State understand him. They know his continued being in power will take the state backward, so they have all decided to vote him out on Saturday, August 9, 2014, that’s why he is reverting some of his anti-masses decisions in the state. He can’t rule again. He should just forget it.”
ENCOMIUM Weekly’s effort to get across to Aregbesola, via his Director, Bureau De Publicity, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon for the defence of the allegations leveled against him by Omisore could not yield the desired results as all our calls were ignored. We also sent a text message, all to no avail.
However, one of the workers who spoke to ENCOMIUM Weekly, under the condition of anonymity said, “I am not aware of any plan by Aregbesola to sack anybody. But the rumour has been on for about three weeks. All I know is that some of us complained about the delay in our May salary which was paid around June 26. I don’t think that may lead to sack.
“Now, we collected our June salary on Wednesday, July 2, 2014. But that does not mean all is well between the civil servants and Aregbesola. So, if he must win August 9, 2014 elections, he has to do a lot of work.”
– TADE ASIFAT
