The Chief of Staff to the Governor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, who is also a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 22, 2018 gubernatorial election in Osun State, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that the current progress in the state is like a marathon which needs continuity that will move the state forward.

Speaking with newsmen at his campaign office in Osogbo, the state capital, Oyetola told the journalists that he is ready to answer the call to service and take the state to greater heights.

He boasted that in the last seven and a half years, he dedicated himself to the public service of Osun as Chief of Staff to the incumbent Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the faithful implementation of the Six Point Integral Action Plan of the current administration.

“I have interacted with our people across the length and breadth of the State, from Iragbiji to Iwo, from Ede to Ile-Ife, and I have seen the energy and industry in the people of Ejigbo and Osogbo, I have been impressed by the contributions of our people from Ikire to Ilobu; I am a friend to the Ijesha and Igbomina.

“I have shared ideas and discussed worthy ideals of people-centered governance with sons and daughters of Osun West, Osun East and Osun Central. I am convinced that we are one people, bound by a common history, language, culture and above all, a resolution to lift Osun beyond where we are. I will work for the unity of our people. I will offer my best in the service of all our people.”

On the insinuation that he grew up in Lagos and that he is alien to Osun, Oyetola describes that insinuation as a campaign of calumny by his political opponent. He maintained that he is a pure homeboy in Osun.

“I grew up on the streets of Iragbiji, in Boripe Local Government Area, as the son of middle-class parents. I had both my primary and secondary education right here in Osun. My good people of Osun, I know you. I have lived with you long enough to say, unequivocally, that we are hardworking and peace-loving people.

Oyetola noted that having operated as a top-flier in the nation’s very fierce and competitive private sector for over 30 years, He has built a vast network of contacts, locally and internationally, that will come in handy towards the next phase of socio-economic development in Osun.

He said: “I am today a proud testimony of what Osun has gifted to the world of business and enterprise. If I could succeed as an Osun boy, who now holds first and advanced degrees with world-class financial sector and public sector experiences, our young ones too can. They deserve to have such benefits and more.

“We will consult more. My people, ours shall be a government of all, by all and for all. We may not be where we wish to be yet, but we are not where we used to be and soon, we will get to where we should be.

“I present to you, our platform, Ileri Oluwa, a deep philosophical Yoruba and religious idea impressing on us the immutability of God’s promise. What God has promised must come to pass and cannot fail. I am divinely inspired on the certainty of God’s promise of prosperity, abundance, security and greatness for our state and people and my role in bringing them to pass.”

“I have dedicated myself, working with other patriots, for the realisation of every promise of God for us collectively and individually. I have been privileged to serve our state, Osun, these past seven and a half years in some capacity. I am now offering to step up and serve in higher capacity of leadership.”