Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former governor of Osun State, has asserted that he is the first governor in Nigeria's history to complete two full terms in office without owning a personal residence in the state he governed. The claim was made in a video posted on X on Thursday, July 23, by the account @OsunDefender, with the original footage captured by AdabanijaTV.
Aregbesola's Statement
Speaking in Yoruba, the former governor stated: "I'm the first governor in Nigeria to rule a state for eight years without owning a house of my own. I stayed in my friend's house for eight years as a governor in my father's land." He challenged anyone who doubted his claim to produce evidence of a house in his name, saying: "Whoever says that what I'm saying is not true should come out and show me the house I own."
This declaration positions Aregbesola as unusually modest among Nigerian governors, a group often scrutinized for accumulating property and wealth while in office. He served as governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018.
Political Background
Aregbesola was once a close political ally of President Bola Tinubu, having served as a key figure in Tinubu's southwest political network before the two fell out publicly in recent years. After leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC), he joined the ADC, where he currently serves as National Secretary. In a separate interview, Aregbesola clarified that he did not defect to the ADC but deliberately joined the party to pursue his political vision, citing failed attempts to reform the APC and his subsequent expulsion as reasons for seeking another platform. He stated that he chose to remain active in politics rather than abandon his goals ahead of the 2027 elections.
