₦airaland Forum

Lately, it has become fashionable for some politically-blinded individuals to rewrite history in a desperate attempt to tarnish the legacy of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the same man they once praised for transforming Osun State into a modern city.

Reading comments here, Some now maliciously claim he “did nothing” as Minister of Interior, while others go as far as misrepresenting his tenure as Governor, saying he “paid half salaries for 8 years.” This deliberate misinformation stems not from truth but from hate and the politics of envy.

Let us be clear: Aregbesola was the first governor in Nigeria to pay workers a 13th-month salary, an extra month of pay, a feat that was unprecedented. The “half salary” claim is a gross mischaracterization. What actually happened was a modulated salary structure during a difficult 14 months period (not 8 years), when the Nigerian economy was hit by a severe downturn due to a crash in global oil prices.

During this period:
Workers from Level 1 to 8 received full salaries.
Those from Level 9 upward received modulated payments (not half), based on a transparent formula.
No political appointee (not even Aregbesola himself) received salaries.
The salary modulation was agreed upon by labour leaders after extensive consultation, not imposed.
Aregbesola started paying the arrears before he left office.

That is not wickedness, it is sacrifice, transparency, and leadership in hard times.


And if they are so quick to forget his leadership in Osun, they are also trying to erase the historic impact he made as Minister of Interior between August 2019 and May 2023, simply because he is no longer politically aligned with their principal. But facts do not lie, and data does not bend to hate.


1. Unmatched Legacy in Passport Reforms

During his time as Minister of Interior, Aregbesola recorded a historic achievement in passport issuance through the Nigeria Immigration Service. In less than four years:

Over 4.5 million passports were issued, the highest ever in Nigeria’s history.

2019 saw 470,000 passports issued, despite starting mid-year.

In 2020, amidst COVID-19 disruptions, the number rose to over 780,000.

2021 recorded more than 1 million passports issued.

2022 peaked with over 1.6 million passports.

As of May 2023, 660,000+ passports had already been produced.


2. Reform-Driven Achievements That Speak Volumes

1. Expansion of Passport Front Offices:
He brought passport services closer to Nigerians with new offices in Daura, Katsina, Zaria, Auchi, Oyo, Alimosho, Ilesa, and more, drastically reducing congestion and travel stress.

2. Digital Transformation:
He introduced online appointment and tracking systems, reducing human contact and eliminating inefficiency.

3. Elimination of Cash Payments:
All payments were made electronic, a direct blow to corruption and extortion in passport offices.

4. Standardized Processing Time:
Under his watch, it was clearly defined — 3 weeks for renewals and 6 weeks for new passports — restoring trust in the system.

5. Infrastructure and Staff Upgrade:
He renovated and upgraded facilities across the country, and immigration staff received new training to enhance service delivery.

6. Diaspora Access:
Nigerians in the UK, US, UAE, and elsewhere gained faster access through retooled consular passport systems and new machines.

7. Enhanced E-Passport:
Aregbesola introduced Nigeria’s most secure passport yet, featuring biometric tech, ICAO compliance, and 10-year validity options.



Beyond Passports – Other Reforms

His impact also extended across the Ministry of Interior:

Correctional Reforms: Decongesting prisons and pushing for non-custodial sentencing.

Fire Service Upgrade: Revamping the Federal Fire Service with better tools and training.

Border Security: Enhanced surveillance and infrastructural improvements.

Civil Defence Empowerment: Strengthening the NSCDC’s pipeline protection and community security roles.



Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s record, both as a Governor and a Federal Minister, speaks for itself. Those shouting “he did nothing” are not driven by truth, they are driven by political bitterness and blind loyalty. But facts are stubborn. He paid 13th-month salaries when many states couldn’t pay one, navigated Osun through economic storms with transparency, and delivered the most significant passport reforms Nigeria has ever seen.

Try as they might, they cannot rewrite history. Aregbesola’s legacy is written in the lives he touched, the systems he fixed, and the standards he raised, not in the noise of haters.

Theniceguy

Clowns everywhere, his only achievement was declaring public holidays 😂😂🤣

You didn't mention Legacy Airport.

12 more characters needed.

Putindbutt:
Clowns everywhere, his only achievement was declaring public holidays 😂😂🤣

Aregbesola sabi give plenty holiday mehn.
2027 will be interesting

You are done with Sharia crap?
Na ADC remain?
Jagaban till 2031!!

Hahahaha, no amount of rebranding can make Aregbesola the Odale to regain the lost relevancy

Aregbe as some accomplishment as Osun state governor but as mibister he was a colossal failure from A -Z.

Do you even remember how many jail was broken under him ? He dis nothibg with passport or xustom, basixally he accomplished notjing as a mibister.

TheNiceGuy:
haters.

Theniceguy

What I know and remember Aregebsola for in Osun was the fact that he was governing the state without commissioners for a hell of a long time and could not pay salaries. He started big and laudable projects then federal allocation dropped and he abandoned them. He had no capacity to generate IGR. He also divided the state seriously;y along religious lines and spent most of his time chasing frivolities rather than seeking ways to generate IGR.

I remember clearly that the passport process was seamless and was already on autopilot , then he stepped in and there was a scarcity of passport raw materials, which was the first time I heard of that in my 50 years on earth....the Passport issuance process went backwards and was riddled with touting and favouritism. Getting passports outside Nigeria was hell! Cancelled and failed appointments and disappointment.
Immediately after Aregbesola left , the backlog was cleared and the process not only became seamless but also improved upon!.

Aregbesola and all the politicians in ADC are old people who want to die without giving the younger ones the opportunity to improve this country.

ADC will implode quickly or be worse than APC in my view, they are again strange bed fellows. APC and Tinubu is leprous to Nigeria btw

Everybody is just trying to sell his or candidate..

Let the rebranding begin as usual....it is that time of the year.

If aregbe no do anything he
1. Gave free train rides to Osun indigenes from Lagos to Oshogbo during festive season, can't recall if he was the first to do it sha.

2. Passport office in Oyo has reduced the way people throng to Ibadan all the way from places like Saki and igbeti, even Ibadan people prefer going to get passport in Oyo nowadays.

3. Seems nobody remembers opon imo tablets, that was a novel move.

And finally, naim dey make me know say Public holiday dey, e no dey waste time declare

helinues:
Hahahaha, no amount of rebranding can make Aregbesola the Odale to regain the lost relevancy

Anyone who refuses to join the APC is irrelevant but Tinubu is busy buying out and coercing every Tom, D.ick and Harry to join the APC out of panic. Aregbe is irrelevant, we agree. Make your preparations and meet him at the polls.

Lol. The more they use spon, lies and propaganda the the more they humiliate themselves.

How can anyone try to whitewash the humongous failings of Aregbe in a critical sector providing services all Nigerian adult may seek to ise at one time or the other?

Unfortunately for Aregbe, His woeful performance as Interior Minister is very easy to verify because Nigerians are the direct end users of services Aregbe incompetently failed to deliver.

No dubious reportage , full of lies and fabrications, cobbled together by Aregbe's shameless minions, can mask the monumental failings of Aregbesola.

All that needs to be done is for anyone to organise a Q and A session with 50 randomly chosen ordinary Nigerians on our streets and seek their answers about services they received under Aregbe, in 8 years, compared to their experience under Tunji-Ojo in less than 2 years.

I can bet any money not a single Nigerians, of the 50, who will not curse Aregbesola bitterly and vehenemently to then praise Tunji-Ojo copiously and profusely.

That is how massive the difference is that no spin, lies or propaganda can distort.

The only notable thing most people remember during his tenure as minister was his consistency in announcing holidays
I used to think that there was a new ministry established mainly for the purpose of announcing holidays headed by Aregbesola.

Just one year of the current minister of interior is far better than 4 years of Aregbesola as minister.

Not just Aregbesola o, virtually all the ministers under buhari (including buhari himself) were clueless and useless.

Unfortunately, balablu decided to continue from where buhari stopped and the results is obvious.

I don't like to insult but this OP needs some brain reset. Whatever name they tag it, people who received irregular half salaries and for a long time zero salaries will never forget what he did.

The claim of National economic down time was just a decoy. He spent lavishly on Opon Imo a substandard Tab that could not even last his tenure. Fake and distractive school restructuring that turned the whole Osun into disarray .

Same money he claimed was not available, he was doing road projects which contract awarded to who... Your guess is as good as mine.

Sometimes , politicians takes the people as fool

Baba Hafsah should take a back seat. He did not perform. Ojo performance is stellar.

More of his achievements in picture that was built on by the current minister

More of the achievement Mr Tunji Ojo built upon in pictures

More of the achievement Mr Tunji Ojo built upon in pictures

TheNiceGuy:
More of his achievements in picture that was built on by the current minister

Bro, even if Aregbe decided to make wrong steps, must his supporters also joined him in making wrong steps .

You can see what people are saying about Aregbe. That's his score card. No amount of rebranding can change a thing

More of the achievement Mr Tunji Ojo built upon in pictures

De:
Reno Omokri probably have been mis-informed or maybe doing that for appointment sake. He has no knowledge about *“Baba Halfusa”*

Let’s help him—and anyone else misled by cheap soundbites—understand the truth.

Yes, during the 2015–2016 economic crash, **Osun, like most Nigerian states, faced a fiscal crisis.** But RAUF AREGBESOLA didn’t hide. He took responsibility.

**FACTS:**

* Junior workers (GL 1– were paid **100%**.
* Senior workers and political appointees received **modulated salaries**—a sacrifice **agreed with labour unions**, not imposed.
* **No civil servant was retrenched.**

Now, contrast that with what Reno is defending today:

* Fuel is *₦950/litre*
* Bag of rice is *₦90,000*
* Inflation is above *30%*
* Millions of Nigerians are slipping into poverty every day

Who is really making Nigerians suffer?

While facing economic storms, Aregbesola still:

✅ Fed 254,000 school children daily (UNICEF & DFID praised it)
✅ Rebuilt 3,600 classrooms across Osun
✅ Launched “Agba Osun” – welfare for the elderly where they get paid monthly
✅ Created OYES – studied by the World Bank and adopted as Blue print for Social Investment programmes Nationwide
✅ Left Osun as **lowest in poverty, crime, and 2nd-lowest in unemployment** (Source: NBS & UNDP, 2018)

That’s called governance with heart and results.

Meanwhile, Reno served in a government that:

* Presided over **massive oil theft**
* Watched the **naira collapse**
* Left no single legacy as enduring as any of Aregbesola’s initiatives

The real question is: **Are Nigerians better off now?**

Aregbesola’s record speaks for itself—loudly, clearly, and with facts.

You may not like him, but you can’t rewrite his legacy.

Aregbesola ni Leader, time shall tell

Ask Oyetola (Osun APC) why they maligned, harassed and ill-treated those who were the founding fathers of the party and youths in Osun all because they're with Aregbesola when he's being humiliated while Tinubu through his silence despite Aregbesola's complain, supported them

helinues:
Bro, even if Aregbe decided to make wrong steps, must his support also joined him in making wrong steps .

You can see what people are saying about Aregbe. That's his score card. No amount of rebranding can change a thing

TheNiceGuy:
Ask Oyetola (Osun APC) why they maligned, harassed and ill-treated those who were the founding fathers of the party and youths in Osun all because they're with Aregbesola when he's being humiliated

Founding fathers of Apc? Who was Aregbesola years back? Is it not same Oyetola that president Tinubu always direct Aregbe to go and collect money from whenever he was broke.

Between Aregbesola and Oyetola, considering the relationship, who should have first vye for Osun state governorship?

Didn't Aregbe go against Oyetola first term which he was unable to succeed but got denied in his reelection.

Why should Aregbe be betraying those who picked him from the gutter?

Wow, seriously I'm done talking to you.

You don't even understand anything about the matter and I'm too busy to explain.

How does it sound to you "Is it not same Oyetola that president Tinubu always direct Aregbe to go and collect money from whenever he was broke"

What kind of statement is this bro?

Aregbesola was campaign chairman of Tinubu governorship aspiration in 1999, where was Oyetola then?

Seriously I'm done talking, does it sound well to your hearing believing this stupidddd lies

helinues:
Founding fathers of Apc? Who was Aregbesola years back? Is it not same Oyetola that president Tinubu always direct Aregbe to go and collect money from whenever he was broke.

Between Aregbesola and Oyetola, considering the relationship, who should have first vye for Osun state governorship?

Didn't Aregbe go against Oyetola first term which he was unable to succeed but got denied in his reelection.

Why should Aregbe be betraying those who picked him from the gutter?

Yes, APC founding fathers in Osun, you don't know them, you're not from Osun. Those who lead the struggle has far back as 2005 When it was war between Aregbesola and Oyinlola.


Even has Aregbesola Chief of Staff, Oyetola wasn't still known, even till this moment we know who's with street credibility.

Aregbesola campaigned for him in 2018 despite Aregbesola's group not in support, that's why he narrowly won.

When he didn't in 2022, he lost.

helinues:
Founding fathers of Apc? Who was Aregbesola years back? Is it not same Oyetola that president Tinubu always direct Aregbe to go and collect money from whenever he was broke.

Between Aregbesola and Oyetola, considering the relationship, who should have first vye for Osun state governorship?

Didn't Aregbe go against Oyetola first term which he was unable to succeed but got denied in his reelection.

Why should Aregbe be betraying those who picked him from the gutter?

TheNiceGuy:
Wow, seriously I'm done talking to you.

You don't even understand anything about the matter and I'm too busy to explain.

How does it sound to you "Is it not same Oyetola that president Tinubu always direct Aregbe to go and collect money from whenever he was broke"

What kind of statement is this bro?

Aregbesola was campaign chairman of Tinubu governorship aspiration in 1999, where was Oyetola then?

Seriously I'm done talking, does it sound well to your hearing believing this stupidddd lies

Why should you continue talking when your reasoning is not different from Aregbe you are supporting.

Who was Aregbesola before he was made a commissioner in Lagos state?

Who was Aregbe before he was made Osun state governor?

An ingrate like Aregbe should just count himself out as somebody who can ever have a say not ordinary in Osun politics not to talk of South West politics.

His generations would be affected with this Aroba story

TheNiceGuy:
Yes, APC founding fathers in Osun, you don't know them, you're not from Osun. Those who lead the struggle has far back as 2005 When it was war between Aregbesola and Oyinlola.


Even has Aregbesola Chief of Staff, Oyetola wasn't still known, even till this moment we know who's with street credibility.

Aregbesola campaigned for him in 2018 despite Aregbesola's group not in support, that's why he narrowly won.

When he didn't in 2022, he lost.

You are capping nonsense. So Aregbesola supported Oyetola first term election? An incumbent supported someone and the person won narrowly.

We don't have short memory here bro

I am a core APC supporter but Buhari was such an incompetent leader that not even his own subjects feared.

Lawlessness was the order of his day. Aregbesola had a relative good image as Governor (had flaws too for notoriously not paying salaries oo) before becoming Buhari's Minister.

Under Aregbesola, getting National Passport became really bad. That's why I still don't rate Tunji Ojo who hasn't done anything special other than trying to fix some of the mess of Aregbesola.

Back in OBJ, Yar'adua and GEJ days.... I effortlessly procured passports in worst case scenarios- 48 hours. Without paying too much bribe.

Even with paying triple and quadruple bribes, you could wait 3 months under Aregbesola.

Front0lane:
Aregbe as some accomplishment as Osun state governor but as mibister he was a colossal failure from A -Z.

Do you even remember how many jail was broken under him ? He dis nothibg with passport or xustom, basixally he accomplished notjing as a mibister.

You know so little bro, here are picture evidence. *The picture is not uploading* I'll post it in my next comment on another thread and mention you now


You don't love APC and Tinubu more than me BEFORE even on this forum. You all know my accounts

helinues:
You are capping nonsense. So Aregbesola supported Oyetola first term election? An incumbent supported someone and the person won narrowly.

We don't have short memory here bro

TheNiceGuy:
You know so little bro, here are picture evidence. *The picture is not uploading*

You don't love APC and Tinubu more than me BEFORE even on this forum. You all know my accounts

Your waywardness didn't start about Apc, are you not the same person pushing Sharia law across the South West states? Have you forgotten?

Did your wish about that came close to reality? Have you forgotten what we told you about it then?

You have been seeing things awkwardly lately . Same way we told you about the Sharia law and other weird ideas you ha e bene bringing lately that they can't work, it's the same with the Aregbe going against president Tinubu's reelection.

The disgrace waiting for Aregbe eh, he would wish the land should swallow him

Okay bro. But hope you're now cleared about the matter. So stop laying claim to what you don't know, get informed first before you share any information so that you don't look stupid afterwards

helinues:
Your waywardness didn't start about Apc, are you not the person pushing Sharia law across the South West states? Have you forgotten?

Did your wish about that came close to reality? Have you forgotten what we told you about it then?

You have been seeing things awkwardly lately

TheNiceGuy:
Okay bro. But hope you're now cleared about the matter. So stop laying claim to what you don't know, get informed first before you share any information so that you don't look stupid afterwards

Which matter? Between Aregbe and Oyetola, who is more older? Age difference made Aregbe to be lifted before Oyetola even for the fact of the family relationship between Oyetola and Aregbe. President Tinubu was selfness with that decision but we can all see what the Odale Aregbe is using to pay back.

Same Aregbesola that was more like an errand boy to president Tinubu is now shaking his yansh. Hahahaha

I'm still saying it, you know so little about this issue bro, relax.

If it's by age, Oyetola is older than Aregbesola not how you're putting it.

I have a question for you, So what happened, why didn't Oyetola win his reelection when Aregbesola ignored his campaign?

helinues:
Which matter? Between Aregbe and Oyetola, who is more older? Age difference made Aregbe to be lifted before Oyetola even for the fact of the family relationship between Oyetola and Aregbe. President Tinubu was selfness with that decision but we can all see what the Odale Aregbe is using to pay back.

Same Aregbesola that was more like an errand boy to president Tinubu is now shaking his yansh. Hahahaha