Adeleke Slams Aregbesola: "Your Tenure Was the Worst in Osun’s History"

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has launched a fierce verbal attack on his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola, describing his two-term tenure as the most damaging period in the state's history. Adeleke’s rebuke followed Aregbesola’s declaration during an African Democratic Congress (ADC) gathering in Osogbo, where he vowed that the party would reclaim the governorship from Adeleke in 2026. 

The governor, in a statement released by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, accused Aregbesola of economic recklessness and poor governance, which he said brought untold hardship to Osun people.

Governor Adeleke listed several grievances against Aregbesola’s administration, including the introduction of a half-salary policy for civil servants, alleged mismanagement of pension funds, and the withholding of cooperative deductions. 

He stated that the former governor left behind a trail of financial mismanagement and institutional collapse that continues to haunt the state’s economy. Adeleke also revealed that his government had so far cleared 28 months of outstanding salaries and nearly ₦60 billion in pension debts inherited from the Aregbesola era.

In a stinging metaphor, Adeleke likened Aregbesola to “a shrew unaware of its stench,” suggesting that the former governor has refused to acknowledge the damage done during his time in office. 

The governor warned that 2026 would be a year of reckoning, as Osun voters would decisively reject any attempt to bring back what he called the "dark days" of Aregbesola’s rule. The fiery exchange signals a tense and early buildup to the 2026 governorship election in the state.