An indigene of Osogbo, Kehinde Raji, and the Secretary to Osun State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, have differed on the claims that the office of the SSG has been marginalised by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.
Raji, a businessman, and supporter of Adeleke, had shared a statement on his Facebook page on Saturday where he demanded better treatment for the office of the SSG and reward for those that worked for Adeleke’s victory at the governorship poll, especially the Osogbo community.
According to him, the post of the SSG, currently occupied by Igbalaye, an indigene of Osogbo, had been relegated in the scheme of things by the administration.
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He also said efforts were made to speak to some stakeholders in the administration for the office of the SSG to get a new lease of life, lamenting that his effort yielded no desired results.
Advising Adeleke to reward those that worked for his emergence in the July 16 governorship poll, Raji also expressed hope that the governor would correct the anomalies already observed with the appointments into the state cabinet.
The statement read, “Recently, a lot of revelations started unveiling; I will never till I die work against the interest of my people in Isale Osun and Osogbo at large, some CABAL rose up to only consider their loyalists for virtually all positions. The SSG given to us in Osogbo was relegated to an unimaginable position never supported by the constitution. He looked helpless and couldn’t help anybody. I used to fight him until I realised the powers against him are more than him (my opinion).
“I tried all possible efforts to speak to the powers that be with no response to my calls, I personally will never go and prostrate for rewards we are naturally entitled to anywhere. A lot of my followers are disturbed without any changes to several complaints. My demand is to let Mr. SSG be accorded full respect of office, reward party faithful that have genuinely worked for the governor’s emergence, and maintain fairness to all party faithful across the State in all ramifications.
“I believe the government of Senator Ademola Adeleke will make everyone happy by the time the commissioners/SA list is released. Many people thought my earlier post was about the list. It’s totally not. Until the list is made official, I can’t and won’t allege falsely. Osogbo worked assiduously, and others too; the Governor has started well and I believe he will end well after his 2nd term in office.”
But Igbalaye, while reacting to the claim by Raji in another statement obtained on Sunday, said his office was not marginalised, adding that Adeleke has also treated Osogbo town as his second home since coming on board as the governor.
Igbalaye, who described Raji’s allegations as a failed attempt to create a wedge between the people of Osogbo and the state government, said within a short period of time, Osogbo has benefited substantially from the present government and warned against the spread of untrue information with the intent to get cheap political gains.
It read, “My attention has been drawn to a baseless attack on the state government by Mr Kehinde Raji in which he alleged the marginalisation of Osogbo and the relegation of the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
“I want to strongly reject the allegation as lacking any basis in truth or reality. Governor Ademola Adeleke has, since assuming office, treated Osogbo as his second home by attending to the infrastructural upgrade of the capital city from roads to water and light among others. Osogbo is receiving full gubernatorial attention for which our people are openly appreciative.
“It is equally false to posit that my office has been relegated by a cabal. There is no cabal in the state government and I wonder where Mr Raji got his false narration from. I remain an ever-busy SSG who is handling many high-profile state tasks and whose office is functioning fully in line with best practises.”
(Punch)
