27th November, 2015
The immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Yemi Farounbi has narrated how Governor Rauf Aregbesola waved aside political differences to ensure that his nomination for ambassadorial position by former President Goodluck Jonathan became a reality.
Farounmi, a veteran broadcaster-turned politician said he had lost all hopes on his nomination when the then Minister of Foreign Affairs informed him that it was necessary to get the support of at least two of the senators representing his state if he would be confirmed as an ambassador.
Farounmi who said this in Osogbo, the state capital alongside Aregbesola at the official opening of a new privately owned radio station, Rave FM.
He noted that Aregbesola’s intervention was very helpful to securing the support of the supporters. “I remembered when I was nominated as an ambassador, I needed the support of two senators from my state to become ambassador, I went to Senator Adeyeye who is my brother but all the Senators in my state were from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
“It was Adeyeye who told me that I need not bother as the governor had instructed all the senators from the state to support me. Without meeting you (Aregbesola), you have made me proud, I am grateful for all you have done without seeing me despite the fact that we are not from same political background”.
Aregbesola, who used the occasion to condemn politicians who go about fabricating lies over the state of the finance of Osun, stressed that his administration will not be distracted by negative comments of opposition but rather will forge ahead with the vision that God has given to him to transform Osun to a place of envy among committee of states in Nigeria.
He noted that detractors and opposition will soon come to appreciate his administration when all projects embarked upon are completed before the end of his tenure in office.
The governor, who admitted that things might be tough financially for the state, revealed that help is on the way for the state as it shall overcome in no distant time.
He held that the Gbogan-Akoda road project and others in the state will commence before the first quarter of 2016 and that there will be no abandoned project by his administration.
According to him, “I will not be disturbed by bad comments from some people about my policies because I believe in God who sent me to Osun and who is supporting me and my philosophy is ‘One with god is a majority.
“What we are doing in Osun may not be appreciated now, but it will become what people will praise latter, we came here and all we have been doing is from the inspiration of God, all that you are seeing are happening from the guidance of God.”
Aregbesola said those who are exaggerating the debt profile of Osun are nothing but mischief makers, adding that, common knowledge of financial rules should have informed them that the amount brandished as Osun’s debt are not ridiculous but unrealistic.
“If we have borrowed N800 billion like some have said how could we have been able to pay the loan interest, how could we have survived. Though we took loan but that is the only way we could have brought development to the state. As tough as it is, God and His help is on the way and Osun shall overcome”.