• Gov, monarch weep over LG crisis, says commissioner
• ‘State govt has reduced Osun’s debt profile by 43%’

Residents across Osun State have expressed concern following the intensifying war of words between Governor Ademola Adeleke and the immediate past Minister of Interior and former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola.

The confrontation, which began after Aregbesola reportedly threatened to oust Adeleke in the 2026 elections, has escalated rapidly. Adeleke’s administration, however, responded fiercely on Monday, accusing Aregbesola of leaving a legacy of suffering, debts and destruction in the state during his tenure from 2010 to 2018.

In response, Aregbesola’s political group, The Omoluabi Progressives (TOP), defended the former governor’s record, describing the debts as strategic investments made under difficult economic circumstances. The group said the public reaction during Aregbesola’s recent homecoming in Osogbo showed continued love and support.

However, the developments have left many Osun residents confused and taken aback. A civil servant in Ede, Kehinde Ajani, said: “I never thought I would see Adeleke and Aregbesola at such loggerheads. They used to work closely. It’s shocking.”

Also, an Ilesa-based trader, Sherifat Adewumi, said: “It’s difficult to know who to believe. One side says Osun is recovering from disaster, the other says they were wrongly blamed. We, the people, are caught in between.” Other residents voiced frustration at the politicisation of governance in the state.

However, the Osun State Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, has said that Governor Ademola Adeleke and a traditional ruler were moved to tears over the seeming crisis regarding the leadership control of local councils.

The commissioner, while addressing teachers in Ede, during a digital literacy training programme organised by the state government, urged them to pray for the state leaders.

He said: “I used to say that Osun is peaceful. What happened in Rivers State is not up to 10 per cent of Osun State’s if not that we imbibe the Omoluabi ethos during the crisis.

“On Saturday, the governor wept for 15 minutes before he could start a meeting. They were pacifying him. Where is Nigeria going? It is not a sin to be a Nigerian. “I also saw a traditional ruler who shed tears over what is going on.”

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has announced a significant reduction in the state’s debt profile, stating that Adeleke has cut the debt burden by 43 per cent between 2022 and 2025.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), yesterday, the state government described the development as a testament to Adeleke’s prudent fiscal management, commitment to transparency, and effective debt restructuring strategy.