http://www.osundefender.org/?p=29230
Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aragbesola, shorn of all airs off office, calls himself an unconventional governor. Amidst allegations that he was coordinating plans by his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to secede and Islamise Osun, he quipped: “I couldn’t even Islamise my nuclear family.” He spoke with KODILINYE OBIAGWU and SEYE OLUMIDE in Lagos. Excerpts:

[b]AT a particular time, your health was an issue, how is it now?

My health was never an issue to me. I never had any health problem and on several times I made Nigerians understand that my health is in a perfect condition. I don’t know why some people chose to make an issue out of my health.

I cannot imagine why people should broadcast what is not there. Anyway, it is their problem. They should be asked what they felt or saw that made them to be concerned about my health.

They said that I travelled abroad and does the fact that I travelled mean that my health is in a bad condition? When did travelling become an issue in Nigeria? I went for the graduation of my daughter and also went for Umra Hajj (the lesser hajj), which was a religious trip.

There was never an issue with my health. I have been healthy all along and I am as fit as a fiddle. The media will do well to ask those people why they are making an issue out of my health.

What is it in the new Osun identity that you are pursuing with so much passion?

The Osun identity was an exercise to inculcate in the people a new way of seeing and doing things; it is an ethical movement, an exercise to let the people peep into their culture and value that which will motivate them to greater appreciation for themselves. It is an acceptance of their identity and roles as individuals.

We deliberately chose February 25 last year, the anniversary of the day that the Western Region gained self-government from the British rule in 1955 to launch it. We gave ourselves a new slogan, designed a flag and adopted the regional crest of the Western Region in which we could be identified. Our people now called themselves omoluabi, which is the epitome of character. This is the meaning of the new identity; it simply celebrated the power and victory of our people. It is working and it is having a positive effect on the people’s well being.
Why do you think some people have said that the Osun identity is an avenue for you to pursue a personal agenda?


Anybody is free to his or her thinking and it is not possible to determine the thinking of anybody. I have repeated the motives for what we did and I do not know what compels the reaction or response of others. But to all genuine Yoruba people, and not just the people of Osun, what we are doing has a lot of meaning and is acceptable.

I do not know why people should feel sad that our people found motivation. But from our survey, what we did is wonderful. I cannot explain what those who have issues with the identity are thinking. It is amazing that some people are faulting such a noble exercise for mobilising our people.

Do you find the allegation branding you a religious fundamentalist amazing?

I see the darts been thrown at me by a tiny group of disgruntled politicians. I want to assume that we are having the death throes of that group. We handled their concerns about my health, yet they held onto it. They acted as if it is a crime to go abroad for a medical check-up. They could not continue to dwell on that and their latest is the battle cry of secession and religious bigotry. Nobody, except the dubious could say that my public life for over 12 years in Lagos State had any religious inclination. If my public life all these years does not have religious stain, how would one year and a half become an issue about religion?

They should know that my administration has given opportunity for all religions, including animists to participate in official functions. Which other state does that? If that is the only thing I have done, does it signpost me as a religious bigot? In the history of Osun, no administration has given fillip to Christian celebrations as much as we have. In the last two Christmas seasons, we have decorated major cities in the state. Last December we went beyond the decorations and had an hour fire works to usher in the New Year. Beyond that, I am the only governor that ever gave free ride to travellers during the festive period. During the Easter celebrations, we provided free transportation to Christians travelling from Lagos to Osun. Will a man pursuing the Islamisation of a territory do that?

I campaigned with a promise to build a convention ground for Christians that will accommodate nearly 200, 000 people. I met with Pastors Adejare Adeboye, Williams Kumuyi and Matthew Asimolowo and all other Christians in Osun to see that the project is realised and they are already working on it. How could any sane mind accuse a government that does all that of Islamisation?

My background does not justify their suppositions. For example, if I have not succeeded in Islamising my nuclear family, how will it be possible for me to Islamise a state. My immediate younger sister, from the same parents is a Christians. I have not been able to convert her to Muslim; how would I therefore attempt to Islamise a state?

How worried are you about this allegation of fundamentalism especially at this time when the Boko Haram religious sect is carrying out attacks against churches in the northern parts of the country?

It can’t be a comfortable feeling when you are not an armed robber and somebody is associating you with it, but I am not rattled by the propaganda. I don’t feel anything rather than the need to educate people on this falsehood.

Did you travel to North Africa recently?

I did not travel to North Africa.

But it was alleged that you went to Cuba…

There is no iota of truth in all that. Should I continue to explain the lie in all this? It will be unbecoming of a man that has been in the public life for more than a decade to suddenly turn to a religious extremist. I am as tolerant as I have always been and nobody associated with me during my stint in Lagos would accuse me of religious extremism.

The talk about North Africa is another reason we should not take them serious. North Africa is no longer a territory free for fundamentalism. There are five countries in the North of Africa and they are no longer territories fit for fundamentalism. Egypt and its neighbour Libya (with the ouster and death of Gadaffi) have been stripped of any extremism. The fundamentalists cannot even survive talk less of anybody going there to propagate fundamentalism. Tunisia, Algeria and Morroco are countries free from any extremist tendencies and any form of fundamentalism. They are mindless characters without imagination.

What of the plans to secede?

Osun is landlocked between five states, Kwara, Ondo, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun and Ekiti. Where is the chance in hell for such a landlocked territory to think of secession? It is laughable.

As a governor, you have also been accused of perhaps being too forthright, saying things without mincing words…

I have been like this. Those who know me know that this is how I have always been. I have not aspired anything different. I am not a conventional governor. In my campaign documents I wrote that we are going to have an unusual governor and not a conventional governor. I have a duty to initiate a project of rapid phenomenal development. When I was in school I used to say that time chases Africa and Africa is in a hurry and cannot be at the bottom of the world and still be sedate and calm. I am a reflection of the turmoil in our land, which we must do everything to remove. We must do everything to mobilise our people to the hype of productivity and understanding of self-worth that will take us out of the rot we are in. If there is anything about me it is the passion to see to quick realisation of our march to progress. At the back of my action and my words, I do not see myself in expensive regalia, imperial or robust and moving and instructing like a king but I see myself as a worker.

What is your relationship with the former governor of Lagos, Bola Tinubu?

He is my brother, my mentor and motivator and he represents the focus of our political determination. He is what our land needs now.

Have you heard of the speculations that your loyalty to Tinubu is part of a succession plan in which you feature strongly?

Tinubu should answer if there is anything he is thinking about a succession plan. He is not yet ready to quit the stage; in fact we have just celebrated his 60th anniversary. If the likes of Robert Mugabe and Olusegun Obasanjo are still in politics, what is the issue about Tinubu? He is waxing strong; he is not about to go yet.

What is your relationship like with the Ondo Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko?

We are both governors and we have some similarities. I have no problem or personal issues with him other than that I want my party to progress across all the states of Nigeria and even win the presidency.

You are seen as the arrowhead of the push to oust Mimiko…

If democracy is the basis of government, it calls for struggles of territories and states. We are contesting in a democratic setting for powers and it is my desire as well as those of all the ACN members to expand beyond where we are at present, Ondo inclusive. It is my desire that my party extends beyond Ondo, Kogi, Kwara and all other places where a people friendly government is needed.

Comment on the plans of the PDP in the South West to find its feet?

PDP will self-destruct. Where do you place a party that held power for eight years and could not leave anything lasting? PDP will go with time and we are determined to provide a better alternative.

Quote:For example, if I have not succeeded in Islamising my nuclear family, how will it be possible for me to Islamise a state.

koruji:
For example, if I have not succeeded in Islamising my nuclear family, how will it be possible for me to Islamise a state.

My immediate younger sister, from the same parents is a Christians.

kaiter: Just keep your foolishness to Osun State and spare the rest of the country.[img]http://www.crzxy.info/abs[/img]

@topic
Who would ever have believed Aregbesola could sound this civil? Who says miracles don't happen?!
I once told the OP that every shall bow and he flew off the hook. Well, well! Aregbesola was in Abuja yesterday on begging mission's to the IG, the SSS DG and the NSA (Azazi).

Kilode?!:


Beaf, Where you dey get all these detailed and specific information from?

and you said you don't work for this government?

[size=14pt]SSS probes leakage of security report on Aregbesola •As gov visits top security chiefs in Abuja[/size]
Written by Taiwo Adisa, Abuja Thursday, 19 April 2012

OSUN State governor Mr Rauf Aregbesola has kicked off a move to forestall a possible move against his government by the Federal Government in the wake of the adverse negative security reports published about the state last week.

Reports in Abuja indicated that the governor, who arrived at the federal capital on Tuesday, took turn to visit the offices of top security chiefs, in what was described as “friendly visits.”

There were fears in the camp of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the effect that the security report could trigger severe moves from the federal authorities.

It was gathered that the governor visited the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar, at the Force Headquarters; the National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi and the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr Ita Ekpeyong, at different times on Tuesday in what was described as “friendly visits.”

When asked whether the governor was summoned to Abuja or quizzed during the trip, sources said that the visit was largely painted as “friendly,” [/b]adding, however, that the governor used the meetings to explain his stance on the fledgling battle over the SSS security report.

“The governor was with the IGP. His visit was said to be on a condolence visit to the Inspector General. But it was clear he went there to explain his situation over the crisis generated by the security report. He was also with the NSA and the DG, SSS. The visits were all painted as [b]friendly,” a source said.

Another source, however, stated that the governor was invited to the office of the IGP to clear the air over the allegations contained in the security report.

Coming on the heels of the said visits, it was also confirmed that the SSS has instituted a probe into the leakage of its report on the activities of the Osun State governor, which the service painted as inimical to public peace.

Sources confirmed in Abuja that the service had kick-started an investigation into the leakage of its report on the political activities of the governor of Osun State.

“The SSS does not play politics and is not involved in politics. Its duty is to ensure peaceful coexistence in the country. It was, therefore, an embarrassment to the government at the centre to see a report from that organisation in the hands of politicians,” a source said.

The source also added that the newspaper house that published the report had been contacted to provide details of its source of the report but that the publishing house had resisted making its editor available for interrogation.

Sources also confirmed that the investigation has extended to activities of the National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was said to have made some references to the security report ahead of its publication by the newspaper.

“The service is always careful of joining issues with politicians but it must take steps to maintain its integrity and that is what is going on,” a source stated.

jidestar: ^ The resident niff always in the southwest business. How nau fisherman? Abi u think say we no know say u be ijaw? Omokiri ^ Argbesola go leave una begging for tooth and hookless.

Kilode?!:
Thanks Beaf, I see it now.

But the report said friendly visit, I no see begging for dia.

Off topic; i Can't wait to see the end of SSS and all these silly security acronyms with unnecessarily over-broad powers we inherited from military dictatorships.

Kilode?!:
You are funny, o, no be Tribune? I saw the almost obsessive references to "friendly visit" like they are trying to push it into my eyes

Tribune is not exactly an unbiased party in this case.

The whole secession allegation thing is ridiculous and unbelievable though. Just saying. Anyway, we deh observe.

The SSS powers are in order. They are effectively above the law as are the FBI, M16 etc; they are the maximal enforcers of our sovereignty and security;

Kilode?!:


Those organizations are not above the law in their countries, and they don't have official roles in State Government houses.(as you are aware, SSS agents hang around State government house Gates, I've seen enough, they are not even covert about it )

Also, M16, like the CIA, is an intelligence ops body for protecting against external enemies not domestics, they provide foreign intelligence. I don't think they throw unsubstantiated allegations at State Governors and call them for questioning and explanation. That sounds like the Nazi SS Gestapo to me.

Nigeria's SSS on the other hand let's just say there is a reason why you don't copy blindly.


It is better to get them organized with more specific roles ( foreign intelligence or presidential Security)

These things we play with are extremely dangerous in the hands of brutal leaders, it's like the FBI when Hoover first ran it. If not for powerful laws and sensible foresight a Hoover would have become a Hitler in no time. Can't play with para-Military orgs by giving them unnessarily over-broad powers like that. It's dangerous for all of us. Don't know when a lunatic will get into Abuja again.

Maybe we have an ideological difference on this issue sha. We will have to Discuss this on another thread though, don't want to derail the thread more than I already did.

My brother, inexeplicable things of voodoo quality will start happening

Meritbaba: I don't know this beaf problem with aregbe's,alara lara o ro oun iwo ni oku aisun oku airo,we citizen of osun we were not complaining about him,so why should u?amebo,eke,sofo