I hate to be addressed as Osun activist, because activists are not state-bound, we are citizen of the world. But I am an Osun-born activist, either way, Osun activists or any activist who have any link to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola have been subjected to verbal and virtual bashing from within and without. We have been called unprintable names; come-and-raid, turn-coats, betrayers, sell-out, and what have you. Like it was in the past, so it is currently, because it is a Rauf Aregbesola, the man who called his government an unusual government, same government that enjoyed unusual media coverage in the beginning is currently battling unusual media siege from left, right and centre, it is simply an unending seasonal films, this also will pass away.

The first season was like a film from the stable of Arnold Schwarzenegger, a harmless celebration of Osogbo sons and daughters at home and in diaspora, popularly called Oroki Day was marred by violence from warring political class, the man at the centre of that gun-battle was Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. It was Chairman Mao of China who once said that “politics is a war without bloodshed” for director of the theatre of war in 2006, Osun politics is a war that blood must flow!

It was a film that set the stage for another episode of electoral war of 2007, from Ikirun to Igbajo, Ilesha to Ile-Ife, it was politics of bloodshed in broad daylight, my own kinsman, Saheed Adebiyi who was then an HND 1 student of Osun State Polytechnic Iree could not understand why politician should hijacked ballot boxes at gun-point, he resisted and paid the ultimate price. However, against all common-sense and sanctity of electoral dignity, somebody was announced against the popular will of the people and another episode began just before dawn on April 21, 2007.In Ilesha, a young girl was gang-raped at the height of the jackboot invasion, the irony of all the horror in all the episode so far was that the actors were bruised but nobody was prosecuted for such a horrific political war.

The season two of the film was not on the violent field of politics of cudgels, knives, guns and bayonet but in the courtroom of wigs, gowns, facts, laws and evidence. The evidences were mind-boggling, from a brute hijacking of ballot boxes to brutal killing of courageous electorate, the evidences was laid on Justice Naron judicial table, raw evidences including the exhumed body of one of the victim of electoral killings!

In the midst of all the long script were some short episodes like media war in the court room, the Kalejeyaye-Naron phone-convo, the objections, admissions, and rulings. One thing was clear to me at the height of the courtroom war, Osun election tribunal don’t need Justice Salami to award victory to Aregbesola, the tribunal only need to be on the side of law, justice and fairness to declare him the true winner of the election. At the end of the season two, Justice Naron and Kalejaye were disgraced and Aregbesola Mandate restored.

Rauf Aregbesola emergence was a relief for the teeming Osun indigenes and residence, he came with a lot of energy and clarity never experienced in the state which created a season three film of love and trust between him and the people, like a true product of popular struggle, he understand the psyche of the people, he possesses the needed street credibility and every policies and programmes became a people’s carnival. From the Osun Youth empowerment Scheme, O’ Meal , O’Clean, O’ Calisthenics, O’ Reap, and Opon Imo (Tablet of Knowledge) and many others were celebrated programmes and policies that even the opposition and the media cannot but rate him higher than his peers. It was a film of development, encouragement and welfare of the people.

However, the opposition in the state have a contrary show, a different opera, a total antithesis of a comedy, and their hands were shown in a brutal campaign of calumny to stop the re-election of Ogbeni. It was a film misdirected from Abuja with the blatant militarisation of a people who solidly trust their governor. The local political colonialist didn’t help the cause of unseating the governor either; it was a film full of misrepresentations, misquotations and misinterpretation. The anti-climax was the triumphant victory rally of Ogbeni on August 10th 2014 on the street of Osogbo, indeed whosoever that mobilised the people that day will be a leading candidate to mobilise the people for revolution!

The gutter opera continue as the tribunals vindicated the victory of Rauf Aregbesola, the salary impasse of workers and pensioner was a fundamental alibi for the anti- Aregbesola group to form a new theatre group and they got three main individual as combined actors, a jobless self-serving activist wannabe, a journalist pastor without a church, and a reactionary Judge.

The salary impasse brought new dimension to Osun seasonal film, it is supposed to be a three-cast film, unfortunately without the consent of the three gladiators, another actor joined the film, the fourth actor came like the true lover of labour and pensioners, but they are more interested in the smear campaigns and the publicity than the welfare of labour and pensioners. They are ready to blackmail any comrade who is not ready to join their mob activism to unseat Ogbeni; it is a film that will continue even after all payment is paid. They caress the street of Osogbo and they found a judge to continue the film as they find new momentum
It is unfortunate that anti-Aregbesola “wakapass” are celebrating Justice Folaranmi as a heroine and a Moremi because of a sensational but worthless petition.

The 11,634 words petition is full of sweeping rumours, a mixture of cold lies, selective distortion of facts and outright political vilifications, it was a scene that was never her own making. Though many people may not know Justice Folaranmi’s past, but some of our comrades who were victims of Folaranmi on the aftermath of 2007 elections will not forget her in a hurry. The Osun’24 were imprisoned at Ilesha on the order of Justice Folaranmi who was then the Chief Registrar, for daring to submit a petition against corrupt judges and lawyers like Justice Naron and Kunle Kalejaye. As far as I am concerned, I am not surprised she is wearing opposition toga for a bad orchestra, she is just a self-serving opportunist, who is pursuing a beautiful present even as she is burdened by ugly past. Let her drama continue.

All the films so far involved the broader civil society groups inside and outside Osun; some were involved directly, some indirectly, some totally while some were involved partially. We are not just onlookers, we partook in all seasons. Some of us experienced extreme brutalisation, imprisonment and physical assaults from the political class and interests. Just like we shared in the brutality, we celebrate the successful policies introduced by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola not because he is the governor but because we consider him as one of our breeds, which was where the subtle blackmail emanated.

Finally, the season film will continue, there is no cause for alarm, no doubt Rauf Aregbesola is not a saint and Osun never voted for one, he has made some human and policy mistakes, only God is perfect but out of his imperfection are road networks in all local government, out of his imperfection, his focus remains how to improve the lives of the majority; fortunately, Osun people understand his unusual approach to governance. This salary nightmare will usher in a glorious era. We must criticise our government at all levels but don’t lie against any government or blackmail comrades who chose not to take your direction. May God bless the State of virtue.

Comrade Saka Waheed is the Osun State Coordinator of Human Rights Agenda Network (HRAN). He tweet via @wahidsaka

Another failed attempt to launder Aregbe's image.

None of his sycophants has deemed it fit to answer my questions:

1. How much was spent on Opon Imo.

2. Who was the contractor for Opon Imo.

3. What is the relationship between the contractor and the Governor? Is nepotism and conscious fraud not at play?

4. Why was the school uniform suddenly turned a single uniform for all pupils?

5. Who was the contractor of the school uniform that the governor created monopoly for?

6. What is the relationship between the Governor and the contractor?

7. Is it a crime for Govenment to borrow? Capital NO. Government borrow all over the world. Why is Aregbe's different? He borrowed recklessly.

8. Fine, what were the funds he borrowed meant for? To start and complete projects

9. Are the projects completed? No, they are all abandoned projects.

10, What happened to do the funds borrowed? Ask Mr. governor and sycophants.

The rascally governor has successfully mortgaged the future of generations yet unborn. At this rate, even a child born today, will pay a major part of the loan some people looted, till he reaches his late 20s. Is that not criminal and satanic.

APC in Osun State is government of the looters for the looters and by the looters. Lootocracy at its best.

As far as I am concerned, we don't have human right activists in Osun state. The people that parade themselves as human right activists now are just 'pocket' activists. In fact , they are the Upper Class 'State Boys'
I live in the state and I know the hardship the people are going through at this moment. Everything has been grounded in Osun State. Nothing is working right now .
People from other States even refer to Osun indigenes as 'Osun go' (meaning Osun is stupid)
No amount of media stunts like this will save Aregbesola. He cannot deceive us no more. We are wiser.

God bless the poster above me. You nailed it.

Soon they will give him an award as the best governor in Nigeria.

vikyno:
As far as I am concerned, we don't have human right activists in Osun state. The people that parade themselves as human right activists now are just 'pocket' activists. In fact , they are the Upper Class 'State Boys'
I live in the state and I know the hardship the people are going through at this moment. Everything has been grounded in Osun State. Nothing is working right now .
People from other States even refer to Osun indigenes as 'Osun go' (meaning Osun is stupid)
No amount of media stunts like this will save Aregbesola. He cannot deceive us no more. We are wiser.

I was in the state capital last week and I could not believe the amount of pot holes littering virtually all the roads in Osogbo.

That rascally tout of a governor is nothing but a fraud.

What happened to the funds he borrowed from the banks and why were the projects ot completed, despite borrowing the total sum to complete the projects.

I told one of the elders in the state and a party stalwart for APC that posterity will not judge them right, if they fail to tell that tout the truth.

OZAOEKPE:
Soon they will give him an award as the best governor in Nigeria.

Whoever tries that should be shot in broad day light.

superstar1:


I was in the state capital last week and I could not believe the amount of pot holes littering virtually all the roads in Osogbo.

That rascally tout of a governor is nothing but a fraud.

What happened to the funds he borrowed from the banks and why were the projects ot completed, despite borrowing the total sum to complete the projects.

I told one of the elders in the state and a party stalwart for APC that posterity will not judge them right, if they fail to tell that tout the truth.

The party men knows the truth but dare not open their mouth for fear of victimization and harrasment.

vikyno:


The party men knows the truth but dare not open their mouth for fear of victimization and harrasment.

They should all be ashamed of being called men, if a woman can be speaking up. I doff my heart for Justice Oloyede. She spoke the unadulterated truth and they all know it.

superstar1:


They should all be ashamed of being called men, if a woman can be speaking up. I doff my heart for Justice Oloyede. She spoke the unadulterated truth and they all know it.

The woman would have easily save the people from the mess but for the rubber stamp lawmakers. The lawmakers even recommend her dismissal from work because of her petition. Osun is such in a sorry state now.

superstar1:


Whoever tries that should be shot in broad day light.

Ah ahh!! just like that? Lol.

vikyno:


The woman would have easily save the people from the mess but for the rubber stamp lawmakers. The lawmakers even recommend her dismissal from work because of her petition. Osun is such in a sorry state now.

Imagine if it has been a PDP-led govt that put the state in this message and the attendant propaganda machine APC would have deployed.

Osun people brought this upon themselves even the chance for this op to mock them in their suffering with a post like this. This shows how insensitive the governor and his supporters are to the plight of their people. The over harped projects are no where to be seen.

i saw the post on a watsapp page and i think Nairalanders will see the fact and fiction, but everybody see the fiction not fact..
this is the fact

"no doubt Rauf Aregbesola is not a saint and Osun never
voted for one, he has made some human and policy mistakes,
only God is perfect...... "

To me, the writer is genuine, emotion must not cloud our reasoning, aregbesola enjoyed the first 3years as governor, Even some of us living in kwara prefer him to the caricature of a governor.