APC, SDP disagree on call for Aregbesola’s resignation

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Osun state yesterday disagreed over calls on the state governor; Mr. Rauf Aregbesola to resign over unpaid salary arrears owed workers in the state

The SDP who had called for Aregbesola’s resignation said the call became imperative based on the current dismal position of the state economy, education, health and public infrastructures and the inability of his administration to meet several financial obligations of government. 

State Chairman of SDP, Mr. Ademola Ishola who spoke after the party’s general meeting held at the weekend in Osogbo expressed shock at the way and manner the governor had been running the state affairs since his re-election last year, accusing him of impoverishing the state indigenes. 

But the APC described SDP’s call as not only irrational but out of order with the financial situation in states across the country.

In a swift reaction, the immediate past commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere said SPD’s reasoning is not in tune with the current financial crisis and the economic challenge that has hit about 27 states in the federation.

He said the party’s leadership in Osun state is behaving like a frustrated court jester whose comment should not be taken seriously.

His words, ‘’We are not surprised that such uninformed call for the resignation of the governor is again coming from SPD whose governorship candidate, Elder Segun Akinwusi has been making unsavoury comments about the leadership of All Progressives Congress {APC} in Osun state.

“SDP should find out from Akinwusi when the state government paid workers salaries when he was privileged to serve as Head of Service under the leadership of governor Aregbesola.

“We will not say more on the irrational call the party had made for Aregbesola’s resignation because we understand the position from which the SDP and its cohorts are speaking. All we need say at this moment is to renew our appeal to the workers of Osun state to exercise a little more patience because serious efforts are being made to ensure that they smile very soon. We appreciate their cooperation, understanding and sacrifice they have made so far. Governor Aregbesola knows what it means for workers not to receive their pay after they had rendered service to the state. The whole nation is in a week of change and fortune of Osun and Nigeria will certainly be better soon’’ 

Ishola who disclosed that the major item on the meeting’s agenda was the current appalling condition of the state said “We need to show serious concern as one of the major opposition parties in the state and with what we have seen so far, our resolve is that Aregbesola should quit immediately to give a chance for Osun people to select another leader who can fix this state”.

Ishola explained that for the first time in the history of the state, public servants were being owed seven months salaries while retirees have not been paid in the past nine months.

He stated that failure of Aregbesola to pay seven months salaries to workers has brought untold hardship to the state while many retirees have lost their lives waiting for their pensions.