The Punch crusade against Aregbesola

By Femi Ifaturoti

The Punch newspaper recently, laden with innuendoes, and sometimes direct vulgar abuse, all tending to portray Governor Rauf Aregbesola as an Islamic fundamentalist, reckless spender of public funds, and an underperformer who is not interested in the development of his State or the welfare of his people, when indeed, the opposite is the case. Space and time will not permit me to go into details, but all must concede to this gentleman (Ogbeni) his powerful vision, sincerity of purpose, and a passion for ensuring delivery of public value. This unique governance model spans all areas of his “government unusual”, from well thought through social safety net programs supporting the senior citizens and people with special needs, to the most elaborate youth empowerment scheme ever embarked upon by any government, an educational policy which is designed to produce well-rounded future leaders, rapid infrastructure upgrade, a massive food sufficiency and agriculture program that is bound to turn around the fortunes of farmers, especially small holders, an unprecedented economic growth the precursor of which is the giant leap of IGR from N300m which he inherited, to N1.5B per month, and i could go on.
Aregbesola is a muslim, and a damn good one too. He has no apologies for this and he offers none. All visitors to Osun, except, perhaps The Punch, would readily concede that Aregbesola’s Administration recognises the Tripod of Faith. Adherents of Christianity, Islam and Traditional religion are encouraged to carry on their faith without let or hindrance, and that is made most evident in the prayers said before commencement of every State function or program. Even outrageously false is the claim that Aregbesola is converting farmlands to a Church while the people are hungry, when indeed, the true story of the land acquisition is as eloquently stated. Previous editorials of that Newspaper have subtly accused Aregbesola of attempting to Islamize Osun, a pitch which the Christian Association of Nigeria has repeated with the intensity of a defective gramophone record. When Aregbesola executes out a well-intentioned plan, which he had hatched since 2006, this newspaper quickly jumped to the conclusion that the motive is to bribe the Christians whose cry of marginalisation is a relatively recent phenomenon.
A responsible publication must avoid editorials that are capable of inciting one faith against the other. The Punch’s editorial in question tended towards this eventuality, and that is unfortunate for a respected Media house such as The Punch.

•Ifaturoti wrote in from Oshogbo, Osun State