Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Monday said a former deputy governor of the state and Peoples Democratic Party stalwart, Chief Iyiola Omisore, had nothing to offer the people of the state.
Aregbesola’s comment came on the heels of Omisore’s criticism of his administration in Ile-Ife on Sunday.
Omisore, a former Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation and PDP governorship aspirant in the 2014 poll in the state had challenged Aregbesola to an open debate, saying he possessed better credentials and capabilities than the governor.
However, the governor, who spoke through his Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Mr. Ajibola Basiru, on Monday, described Omisore as an “ordinary fellow, who has no authority to challenge him to a debate”.
He said, “Omisore should go and engage other aspirants of his party in a debate first. It is after winning his party’s ticket that he could think of engaging the governor in a debate.
“If he doesn’t, at this stage, know the rules of public engagement in governance, that shows the level of representation Osun had during PDP’s years of misrule.
“On what basis does he want to debate with the governor? What does he have to offer? What did he offer as deputy governor and senator? Osun cannot be drawn back by men of yesteryear anymore; Osun is on a progressive move.”
Faulting Omisore for saying the Federal Government had reimbursed Osun for some federal road projects constructed by the state government, Aregbesola challenged the PDP chief to produce evidence of such payment.
He said, “If it is that easy to get reimbursement from the Federal Government, why did the PDP-led administration, under Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s watch, leave Osun roads in disrepair for seven and a half years? Why didn’t the PDP tar Osun roads and go to the Federal Government for reimbursement?”
The governor restated his commitment to the development of the state, noting that the new infrastructure would fast-track socio-economic growth in the state.
A man of integrity has spoken well.