Reading a poorly written hatchet job called an investigative report, one might be prompted to ignore the ranting of an ant, and that was what our Principal, Engr Kehinde Raji, did. However, we felt the need to set the record straight, prompting us to appeal to some allies of Araj to prevail upon him to grant us the approval to write this rejoinder.
To start with, Araj is a businessman who is not a card-carrying member of any political party. By virtue of his philanthropic activities through AARAJI EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION (AEF), hundreds of thousands of people in Osun have benefited immensely. For further inquiries, you can visit www.aarajiempowermentfoundation.org.
It is on record that prior to the last off-season gubernatorial poll in Osun state, Aaraji was approached by the Adelekes to support them in their quest to become the Governor of the state during the election held on July 16, 2022.
The entourage to AARAJI’S GRA MANSION, Osogbo, was led by the Present state chairman of the PDP, Hon. Sunday Bisi, the incumbent Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev Bunmi Jenyo, and the present Senate minority leader, Senator Lere Oyewunmi, to beg for his support, fully aware of the thousands of followers he had and still has across Osun state.
Those names mentioned earlier are living witnesses to the conditions given to the Adelekes before he could work for them, which included the following:
1. That he, Araje, would not join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or be a card-carrying member of the party.
2. That his contract funds, which the former government refused to release, would be paid should Senator Ademola Adeleke win.
3. That Aaraji Constructions Ltd would be patronized as a means to cater to the thousands of followers, creating jobs and financial means for them.
4. His town (Osogbo) would be given priority in the area of human and infrastructural developments.
It should be noted that all FOUR conditions were agreed upon by the Adelekes in front of all party chieftains mentioned earlier.
As a mark of appreciation, the then Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, visited Aaraji’s House on the 13th of August 2022, to thank him for his visible support before, during, and after his election victory and to celebrate his birthday with him.
As if it was a mere eye-service, as soon as the Governor was sworn in on the 27th of November 2022, precisely by the end of the same month, November, a few days after the Swearing-In, the game to edge Aaraji out started.
Let me take us back a bit. Prior to Governor Adeleke’s swearing-in, the project coordinator of RAMP, Engr Okediya, was wrongly sacked by the previous administration for reasons best known to them. This made Aaraji take Engr Okediya to Governor Adeleke for saving the state about 200 million naira, and the Governor-in-waiting then appreciated Engr Okediya and instructed AARAJI three different times to ensure he accompanies the project coordinator back to his office immediately after the swearing-in ceremony.
I must also let my reader know that the instructions by the Governor-elect were carried out, and Araj led RAMP’s project coordinator, in the company of the ramp accountant and a lady simply called Folake, who was also from RAMP. In fact, the interim party chairman, Dr Adekunle Akindele, was also on-site when Araj brought Engr Okediya to the Governor on the 28th of November 2022, a day after his swearing-in. On that day, Aaraji had his security escorts with him, and all went well.
However, on the 30th of Nov, Chief Mrs. Dupe Adeleke (The Governor’s elder sister) phoned Aaraji on the reasons why he escorted the sacked Project coordinator. Aaraji explained it was on the instructions of Mr. Governor, and an argument ensued; the conversation ended abruptly. A committee was set up, and Engr Okediya was restored till date.
Aaraji’s major sin was his support for President Tinubu and Senator Bashiru during the last Presidential and senatorial elections in Osun state. They were APC candidates. His candidates won in Araji’s dominated local government, and his failure to prostrate for contract awards.
Aaraji, till date, is a friend to all the former Governors in the state, including Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Prior to the emergence of Governor Adeleke, Aaraji was a major factor in the election of Governor Gboyega Oyetola, but due to Oyetola’s rejection of Aregbesola’s loyalist, Aaraji worked against him, and Oyetola lost the election.
Aaraji is fast becoming a major stakeholder in the politics of Osun state, which has created fear across different parties.
Aaraji’s empowerment foundation known as AEF, with registered members of over 50,000 people, especially youths, is a force in present-day Osun to reckon with. His December 9, 2023, Kejebu hangout shook the state to a standstill; over 5000 people attended and were fed breakfast and lunch. Over 1000 aged women were given free ankara and sewn freely by the foundation. One thousand people benefited from his free health medical treatment of any hospital of their choice for the next one year across the state. All this and much more have become a threat to the ADELEKES who reneged on their promises with Aaraji. The Kejebu crooner also plaited and barbed hair last Christmas for over 3000 aged people. Within four months (Sept-Dec) in 2023, Aaraji empowered 10 youths with one million naira each as business start-up funds. Over 200 youths got from 100k-500k as start-up funds. These gestures have endeared the majority of the people to him, IDAN 001 as popularly called has never been voted for nor made a dime from public funds. If you want to know more, please visit www.aarajiempowermentfoundation.org.
Finally, Aaraji has strictly a business relationship with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state; he is presently the infrastructure partner to Oyo state government on the infrastructure development of Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi G.R.A development in Ibadan. He has no political relationship whatsoever with the performing Governor.
Guilty conscience has arrested the minds of the leadership of PDP in Osun state who failed to honor agreements reached with AARAJI before coming to power, using Daramola, an undergraduate civil engineering student of Adekeke University as a front of attacks. It is so unfortunate; his birthday last weekend was also used to attack Aaraji on the blue app. Aaraji is a loving, brilliant, humble, and people-loving soul; they should let him be. The unwarranted attacks using Daramola, an undergraduate civil engineering student of Adekeke University, as a front are regrettable. It is so unfortunate that his birthday last weekend was also used as an opportunity to attack Aaraji on the blue app.
The relentless efforts to tarnish Aaraji’s reputation by those with a guilty conscience have only intensified. Aaraji remains steadfast, and his contributions to the community and state continue to speak for themselves. The unfolding saga sheds light on the complexities of political alliances and the consequences of unfulfilled promises in the intricate world of governance.
