Members of the National Assembly from Osun State have declared their support for the Governor of their state, Rauf Aregbesola, over the report alleging that he was in the process of Islamising the state and seceding.
In a statement made available to The Eagle Online, the senators and Representatives said their late response to the issue was not due to lack of capacity but the need to watch if the opposition Peoples Democratic Party would change strategy.
The statement reads in full: “We the undersigned Omoluabi Caucus of the National Assembly, comprising all the Senators and members of the House of Representatives from the State of Osun, have watched with rapt attention the trend and manner of the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s antics against Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola the Governor and the government of the State of Osun. We have allowed qualitative time to pass, not due to lack of capacity on our part to respond timeously but hoping that instead of mere rantings, frivolous and spurious criticisms, the PDP will come up with logical and constructive reproach of the ostensible successful and people oriented Action Congress of Nigeria’s government of the State of Osun. As representatives of the people of the state at the National Assembly, we opine that silence at this hour is no longer golden.
“Therefore, we explore this medium to state our position, debunk the ill spirited purported security report on the Governor of the State of Osun and diffuse its intended religious and political pressure. Unequivocally, we stand solidly with our party ACN, under the leadership of our creative, agile, dynamic, energetic and clearheaded Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who since his first day in office has made clear his developmental mission and set machinery in motion towards attaining economic and infrastructural excellence without being distracted.
“The recent twist in the expression of bitterness and anguish of the PDP can no longer be belied, it is time to nail the coffin of their defeat and lay it to rest. Regrettably, the livid party (PDP) was on the seat of governance of the state for almost eight wasted years without anything to substantively point at as the legacy of those years other than fallow, ruin and penury. Little wonder, they remain unsettled at the intimidating giant strides of the present ruling party (ACN) whose emergence and reclaim of the state is not an accident but a product of constructive opposition, serious planning, developmental frame works and qualitative politicking.
“It is rather pitiable and laughable that the PDP leaders within Osun State in particular and the Southwest in general having lost political credibility, capacity and creativity on how to go about their politicking to remain relevant have beckoned on the perceived super structure of the Federal Government to come to their rescue as was done in the dark days of jack boot democracy of General Olusegun Obasanjo. We are not quick to forget this ploys and methods of PDP. Once beaten, twice shy!
“Unfortunately, if the purported security report as alluded to in a recent national daily is true, the supposed non-partisan security apparatus of the federation have allowed itself to be dragged into the murky waters of politics without recourse to professionalism or fear of credibility. These very unprofessional acts of the Department of State Security (DSS) are either products of inducement or professional sycophancy, which is capable of disrupting the peace of the nation and stability of our polity. Let the DSS be reminded that their major responsibility is to secure the nation by gathering and processing intelligence information; promote peace and stability and not to generate or initiate any process capable of disrupting the peace of any community in Nigeria or derailing genuine democracy and good governance in our state under whatever guise.
“The allegation that the Governor of the State of Osun intends to secede from Nigeria clearly shows the height of ignorance of PDP and their “hands of Esau” as well as their lack of understanding of the most basic ideals and tenets of Federalism. It is not alien to Federalism anywhere in the world for federating states to maintain independent identities vis a vis state flag, anthem, emblems, seal among others, Cross Rivers State is an apt example. This is also common in United States of America from where we borrowed our federal, presidential and democratic model. It is on record that as soon as Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took over the mantle of leadership, a thorough rebranding was done to boost the deflated ego of the people and the battered image of the State of Osun.
“It is surprising that rage and quest to regain relevance at all cost has deprived PDP the capacity to appraise this warped logic of theirs. A clear understanding of structures and practices of federalism and governance with a view to revamping the lost practices and cultures ideal to genuine federalism, should not have generated any resentment but praise and encouragement for others to emulate. During the era of the sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the other regions of the federation did not cry wolf at the meteoric pace at which Awo developed the Southwest Region.
“The cardinal question to answer for historical clarification and reference is this – does Osun as a state within the Federal Republic of Nigeria have the right to a separate identity or not? If the actions of ACN or the government of the State of Osun has infringed on the provisions of the Constitution, the PDP should follow a more respectable and constitutional route. Section 232(1) of the Constitution enjoins the Supreme Court to the exclusion of other courts to have original jurisdiction, at the instance of the Federal Government or any state for that matter to entertain action with respect to disputes involving any question of infringement of legal rights. We will not forget to mention that this has always been a conventional means within a federation when settling any matter of controversy, not the use of blackmail, name-calling, malicious labelling or the use or misuse of federal might or apparatus.
“Blackmailing the Governor and the government of the State of Osun and whipping up religious sentiments is an expression of a sinking political party desperate to hold a rootless straw to stay afloat. As at today at the National Assembly, there are two (2) Christian Senators, four (4) Christian Honourable Members, and one (1) Moslem Senator and five (5) Moslem Honourable Members. In the State House of Assembly, there are eighteen (18) Christian Honourable Members and eight (8) Moslems, while in the thirty one (31) member Executive Cabinet, there are nineteen (19) Christians and twelve (12) Moslems. At the Local Government level, there are seventeen (17) Christian Local Government Executive Secretaries and fourteen (14) Moslems.
“At the top echelon of our party ACN in the State of Osun, the Acting Chairman, the Secretary and the Treasurer are all Christians. Given the above statistics, it is absence of deep thinking; cerebral articulation and sound reasoning that can make anybody suggest islamisation of the state under the prevailing political dialectic. Where on earth did fabricators and peddlers of the purported security report generate their story, if not for sheer mischief?
“We are aware that since his emergence as the Governor of the State of Osun after a protracted legal battle, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has given Christian celebrations befitting glamour and colour; cities and towns across the state were well decorated during the last Christmas celebration, trains are made available to indigenes free of charge from Lagos to Osun (and back) during Christmas, New Year and Easter celebrations etc. It is mere balderdash and crass dishonesty for anybody to attempt sowing the seed of religious discord to score any political point at this time, in this day and age of our national effort to quell such where it exists.
“The DSS and PDP should note that historically, the Southwest region has been exceptional with our religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence without recourse to religious enmity, divide or segregation in our politics. Importation of this phenomenon alien to our political culture is mere obtuse desperation, which is capable of unsettling our p
eaceful political environment and exploration of such to wreak havoc. We will not lose sleep! We will maintain extra vigilance and remain undaunted in our determination to tame the menace that has suddenly beclouded the reasoning of our disgruntled political detractors.
“At this juncture, we sincerely hope PDP and its apparatus will change their style and copy ACN when we were in opposition in the State of Osun. We implore them to be rational, reasonable, focused and constructive in their politicking. A critique of our laudable programmes makes more sense than a descent into area boy schemes. Our present effort towards the Southwest integration should serve as a pilot for others to follow, instead of imagining secession and islamisation where none exists. Joining the train and emulating this initiative of the ACN and the Southwest of Nigeria is more honourable and not too late, indeed it is desirable and a most appropriate path of honour. It makes sense to make hay whilst the sun shines!
“We hope that a more desperate measure of elimination, provocation and sponsorship of organised chaos, violence and rancour will not be resorted to when the current effort fails.
Long live Action Congress of Nigeria, Long live the State of Osun, Long live t”he Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you and God Bless.”
The statement was signed by Senators Olusola Adeyeye, Babajide Omoworare and Mudasiru Husain; Representatives Lasun Yussuf, Jibola Famurewa, Ayo Omidiran, Adeyinka Ajayi, Rotimi Makinde, Gafar Amere, Olufemi Fakeye, Nathaniel Agunbiade and Adetunji Ajagbe.