• Thursday, March 28, 2024
businessday logo

BusinessDay

I have not received salary, as governor, for eight years – Aregbesola

The outgoing Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that he has not received salary since he assumed office as governor of the state eight years ago.

Aregbesola made the claim yesterday on ‘Ogbeni Till Day Break’, a monthly interactive programme introduced after he was sworn into office, noting that he had been prudent with the resources of the state and was avoiding unnecessary wastages.

“The state feeds me, fuels my car and covers my other expenses. This is why I see no reason to earn a salary. I have no house, save the one I built before I became governor of Osun,” he said.

“I have no bank account anywhere in the world. I have not earned a dime in salary since I became governor and I do not intend to so do,” he further said.

On his score card as governor, Aregbesola said: “My greatest achievement has to be our social investment programme. Our people now refer to themselves as Omoluabis. If properly internalised, 50 percent of our problems as a race would have been solved.

“As a matter of fact, we have not commissioned 10 percent of our projects. We will not be found commissioning hairdressing saloon and boreholes. We would only commission projects worthy of celebration.

“Our school feeding programme which we revived and expanded is life-changing. We put together a youth empowerment programme that is acclaimed worldwide,” Aregbesola said.

Speaking on his successor, Gboyega Oyetola, the governor described him as a cerebral individual who does not have the same “swagger” like him.

“Gboyega Oyetola is a cool, calm and brilliant goal-getter, but he is not a radical like me. He does not have my swagger but he is an extremely cerebral human being,” he said.

According to him, “I have no regrets in governance, given another chance to govern, I would continue along this same path. To the glory of God, we have just won an election. There is no better way to demonstrate our political sagacity than that.

“However, my party is different from me and if there are areas the party feels I could have done better, they are free to advise the incoming governor to make such amends.

“It is extremely difficult to maintain our level of popularity over an eight-year period. We got into power at the eleventh hour but that of the incoming governor has been one of ease. It’s a sign of things to come.”

On why he did not vie for senatorial position in next year’s election, the outgoing governor said he wanted to rest after being active politically for several years.

“The reason why I didn’t pick up the senatorial ticket is very simple. I have been active politically since my secondary school days. I simply want to rest.”

 

Iniobong Iwok with agency report