Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has responded sharply to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s recent comments suggesting plans to remove him from office in the 2026 elections, describing such threats as “empty boasts” from a “troubled mind.”

In a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke accused Aregbesola of leaving behind a legacy of mismanagement that continues to haunt the state.

The Governor cited heavy debts, unpaid salaries, abandoned projects, and suffering among civil servants as the fallout from the former administration.

“A man who should be remorseful and tender public apologies for his years of maladministration has the audacity to threaten Governor Adeleke who is clearing the mess left behind by Mr Aregbesola after his eight years of anti-people, thoughtless leadership,” the statement read.

Governor Adeleke’s media office alleged that Aregbesola’s tenure was marked by hardship for workers and pensioners, referencing the controversial half salary policy and misuse of state funds, including contributory pensions and cooperative deductions.

The Governor’s camp claimed that the current administration has made significant progress in reversing the damages. According to the statement, the Adeleke-led government has paid off 28 months of half salaries owed by the previous administration, cleared close to ₦60 billion in pension debts, and reduced the state’s debt profile by 40%, as confirmed by the Debt Management Office.

“In less than three years, Governor Adeleke has surpassed the eight-year performance of Mr Aregbesola without borrowing a kobo for infrastructure projects,” Rasheed stated.

The statement highlighted the achievements of the Adeleke administration, including the construction of over 200 kilometers of roads, rehabilitation of more than 200 schools and health centers, and the provision of free health insurance to over 30,000 pensioners. It also noted the completion of abandoned projects at Osun State University and the successful establishment of the University of Ilesa.

Challenging Aregbesola to compare legacies, Adeleke’s spokesperson urged him to inspect ongoing dualisation and flyover projects in Osogbo, Ile-Ife, and Iwo, as evidence of the current administration’s developmental strides.

The Governor’s office concluded by affirming that Osun residents are unlikely to return to what it described as “the dark days” of Aregbesola’s leadership.

“2026 is a payback time when Osun people will punish the former Governor and his new party for wilfully inflicting pain and suffering throughout his eight-year rule,” the statement added.