Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said opposition parties are using the financial crisis facing the state to sponsor attacks against him because of his contributions to the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Sunday by the governor’s media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor spoke at a reception in honour of the Special Adviser to President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.

He said Osun State was not the only state owing workers but the opposition used the opportunities presented by the crisis to unleash hate campaigns against him in the media.

Aregbesola added, “Every objective-minded Nigerian should pause to ask the pertinent question: Is Osun the only state which owe workers’ salary?

“The apparent answer is ‘no’. More than 22 states found themselves in this crisis.

“The reason Osun is always in the news is not far to seek. I make bold to say that some individuals in the state are deliberately sponsoring hate campaigns against the state because of my government’s role in the ‘Project Change’ that led to the downfall of their party during the general elections.

“It is not news again that our state contributed to the defeat of their leader (Goodluck Jonathan).

“What they did is to latch on to the general financial crisis to wage a war of attrition against Osun Government in the media. All the bad portrayals of Osun have their root in our opposition to Jonathan.”