Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has launched a blistering critique of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, describing his eight-year administration as the “worst in Osun’s history.”

Adeleke’s comments were issued in a statement by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, on Monday, in response to remarks made by Aregbesola during a political gathering on Sunday. Addressing supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Osogbo, Aregbesola had vowed that the ADC would unseat the Adeleke-led government in the 2026 governorship election.

Governor Adeleke dismissed Aregbesola’s comments as “empty boasts,” accusing him of overseeing a period marked by economic hardship, policy failures, and widespread mismanagement.

“The boast of Mr. Aregbesola is a symptom of a troubled mind haunted by the suffering he inflicted on Osun people through his policies,” Adeleke said.

He accused the former governor of mismanaging workers’ welfare through the implementation of a controversial half-salary policy, mishandling pension contributions, and withholding cooperative deductions from civil servants.

“A man who ought to apologize for years of maladministration now has the audacity to attack a governor who is repairing the damage—paying off half-salaries, settling unjustified debts, and restoring dignity to Osun workers,” the statement read.

Adeleke disclosed that his administration has so far cleared 28 months of the half salaries owed by the previous administration and paid close to ₦60 billion in pension arrears.

He further blamed Aregbesola for plunging the state into a cycle of unsustainable debt, which, he said, continues to affect the state’s financial stability.

“The people of Osun are wise enough to recognize that the darkest era in our history was under Mr. Aregbesola, during which many pensioners died and countless families were thrown into hardship,” Adeleke stated.

In a sharp rebuke, Adeleke warned that Osun voters would reject any attempt to return to what he called “the dark days” of Aregbesola’s leadership.

“No voter in Osun is ready to revisit the pain of the past. 2026 will be a payback year. The people will speak clearly at the ballot box,” he added.

The exchange marks an early flare-up in what is expected to be a heated contest in the build-up to the 2026 governorship election in Osun State.