BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

A controversial security report adds to other political challenges confronting the enfant terrible of Southwest politics.

OGBENI Rauf Aregbesola, the Governor of Osun State or State of Osun, as he now prefers to call his domain, is riding out an unusual storm. In the past, Aregbesola had stirred the storm to the discomfort of his predecessor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, whom he edged out of office at the ending of 2010 after about three years of a bruising dispute at the election tribunal.

And in the recent past, he had to face a number of controversies relating to his administration of the state christened State of the Living Spring.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which recently retooled its leadership across board, did not take time to latch onto some of Aregbesola’s controversial utterances, policies and actions to gain a relevance in the polity.

How it began
It started with the alleged selection of student leaders from the state for military training in Cuba. The opposition was quick to allege that the Cuba training was for the purpose of using the trainees as members of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN killer squad that would be used to perpetrate rigging in future elections in the state.

Even more disturbing was the leakage of a security report articulated by the Department of State Security (SSS) that made sundry accusations against Governor Aregbesola bordering mostly on actions directed against the integrity of the nation.

The indicting security report
The security report reportedly centered on the allegation that the Governor had increased the profile of a Muslim group, Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen Society of Nigeria(TAWUN) in the state when he allegedly used operatives of the group to replace SSS personnel in his security arrangement.

The report, which was also copied to the Chief of Army Staff and the National Security Adviser noted that, “there are indications that Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State is nursing the ambition of Islamizing the state.

Already, he has taken control of the Jama’ atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen Society of Nigeria (TA’AWUN) through his policy of spearheading the use of Hijab in all public schools in Osun State.

Aregbesola and Oyinlola - opposition leader

The group founded in 1994 by one Sheikh Daood Imran-Molaasan with headquarters in Iwo, one of the strongholds of Islamic belief in Nigeria, has also spread its tentacles to Kwara, Lagos, Sokoto and Kaduna states”.

Even though Aregbesola had before now been known not to shy away from political battle, the accusation of instigating rancour against his fatherland was one that he was obviously not prepared for. It was as such not surprising that in fighting back he had to change tactics.

When the allegations were made Aregbesola used private and public functions to explain why certain decisions and policies were taken by his administration.

However, a chieftain of the PDP, Senator Iyiola Omisore was to raise the bar when he reportedly threatened to attack Aregbesola’s convoy if he, (Aregbesola) fails to discontinue the use of TAWUN members as his body guards.

Though Senator Omisore denied the allegation, the heat, however, truned on him and his party as the hunter seemingly became the hunted. The revelation of the alleged security report drew several comments particularly from stakeholders in the state.

The Islamic group TAWUN which was accused of having a link with the dreaded Boko Haram expressed shock at the news saying that it was a plot to give the organization and Muslims a bad name to achieve what the author of the sad security report set out to achieve.

At a press conference in Osogbo, National President of TAAWUN, Alhaji Dawood Imran Molaasan, wondered how his organization, which he claimed has established schools, hospitals, cyber cafes and many others, would now want to change from creative development to a destructive organization. Molasaan further pledged to sustain the peace and secularity of the state.

CAN, traditionalists back Aregbesola
Representatives of the Christian community in Osun State, led by the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) during a solidarity visit to the Governor in Osogbo said Christians were into support of Aregbesola’s administration in all its development programmes.

Rev. Elijah Onifade, an executive member of CAN and a retired Baptist Clergy, who spoke on behalf of the Christian leaders, said CAN had queried one of its members, who was reported to have granted an interview accusing Aregbesola of plans to Islamise the state.

He said the concerned member had told the body that his response to media inquiry was distorted by the newspaper to suit its purpose, adding that the whole report was aimed at  causing serious disaffection  between Muslims and Christians.

Also, President of International Council for Ifa Religion (ICIR) Osun State Chapter, Prof Idowu Odeyemi, deplored the rumour of the attempt by the Osun Government to Islamise the state, describing the allegation as absurd.

Odeyemi, in a letter entitled: “Islamisation of Osun State? Laughable!”, said there was never a time in the history of the Yoruba people when a government attempted to impose a particular religious tenet on the polity or the people.

Given the criticisms that have followed the report it would not be out of place to say that the matter of security in the state has become an issue for political relevance.

As days roll by, it is to be seen if the said report would cow Aregbesola or fire him more in his radical approach to the political system.