4th May, 2012
A call has gone to the Federal Government to face the real act of governing the nation and putting in place measures that will reduce the high level of poverty in the country rather than witch hunting the Governor of Osun State, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola, in the name of a spurious security report accusing him of attempting not only to Islamise Osun State but also trying secession out of the federation of Nigeria.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hakeem Abiodun Muniru; a lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Wahab Alawiye-King and a council chairman, Adeyemi Taofeek Alli, all condemned what they called ‘the stigmatisation of the Osun State governor just for the Federal Government to nail him’.
They reacted on the Aregbesola matter at different chats with our correspondent in Lagos. Muniru who represents Oshodi Isolo Federal Constituency 2 in the House, said the security report was an attempt to weaken the genuine developmental plans of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the southwest geopolitical zone.
“Of course, they see Aregbesola as the arrowhead of our great party’s march towards making the southwest region a role model in development governance for others in the country hence the security report aimed at weakening him and other ACN governors and leaders,” he said.
His view was echoed by Alawiye-King who represents Lagos Island Constituency 2 and Alli, chairman of Odiolowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area. “They just want to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. What has Aregbesola got to do with secession? These people are jesters,” Alawiye-King said.
“It is a shame that the FG can descend to this level. After ruling the country for over a decade with nothing to show for it, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government is crying foul where there is none. This is mere diversionary but thank God Nigerians and the world over have seen through their deceit,” the Odiolowo/Ojuwoye LCDA boss said.
The trio advised the Federal Government to face the burning issues affecting Nigerians today rather than engaging in unnecessary witch-hunting.
“They have many issues to contend with. The security situation is not improving; Nigerians are wallowing in darkness due to lack of electricity supply; corruption is increasing daily at the federal level while ordinary Nigerians are falling daily into the abyss of poverty. The Federal Government is not addressing all these but it’s focusing on a report that has no substance. This is a witch-hunt that has no basis,” the trio said.
—Jamiu Yisa