Resign if you can’t rule, Mark tells Aregbesola

By Ben Agande
ABUJA — The war of words between the Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola and the Senate President, Chief David Mark, escalated yesterday as the Senate president asked the Osun State governor to resign his position if he cannot provide leadership for the people of the state.

Governor Aregbesola had accused some prominent Nigerians, including the president of the Senate of plotting to destabilise the state by raising N1 billion to impeach the state governor.

But in his reaction, Mark accused the state governor to stop behaving like an area boy and concentrate on the art of governance instead of raising false and unsubstantiated allegations, to which the Osun State governor urged the president of the Senate to act like a statesman which his position as the president of the Senate entails.

But in his reaction yesterday, Mark challenged the state governor to retrace his steps and prove his allegations that the Senate president held meetings with principal officers of Osun State House of Assembly to raise N1 billion to destabilise his administration
In a statement yesterday, Chief Press Secretary to the president of the Senate, Paul Mumeh, noted that “it is not enough to raise false alarm.

It is a common knowledge in law that he who alleges must prove. The onus is on Aregbesola to prove beyond reasonable doubts the allegations.”

Mark noted that “the office of a state governor is a very high office in the land. It demands the highest ethical standard. It requires high sense of responsibility. It has not degenerated to the extent of occupiers of the high office to throw mud at eminent people needlessly.

“What is my business holding meetings with Osun lawmakers or plotting to raise N1 billion? For what? We think Aregbesola should tell Osun people the real problem or let him resign if he is not prepared for the job.”

Mark pointed out that “by now, Aregbesola should roll out his programme of administration for the people and stop chasing shadows, aimlessly. Maybe we need to remind the governor the import of the oath of office and that of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Governance is a serious business, it is not for the ill prepared.

The statement noted that “we have no business joining issues with Aregbesola, but for goodness sake, leave our Principal out of Osun politics and face the task of developing the state.”