𝐎𝐬𝐮𝐧, 𝐀𝐃𝐂 𝐠𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚’𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲, 𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲.

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Osun State, Dr. Najeem Salaam, has hit out at individuals he described as “merchants of bitterness” for criticizing the payment of half salaries during the administration of former governor Rauf Aregbesola.

He spoke on Monday on RAVE FM in Osogbo, a broadcast closely monitored by Patriotic Insights News, questioning why critics had failed to hold successive governments accountable for allegedly abandoning programmes introduced by Aregbesola, which were designed to cushion hardship and promote social welfare.

Salaam listed initiatives such as O–Meal school feeding programme, O–Ambulance health scheme, O–Widow support, and the Osun Elders welfare package, insisting that they represented some of the most impactful social interventions in the history of the state.

“Why are these individuals disseminating bitterness about half salaries not querying the governments that succeeded Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola about not sustaining the commendable legacy left behind?” Salaam asked.

The former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly argued that the half–salary policy was a difficult but necessary measure taken at a time of economic recession and dwindling federal allocations.

According to him, rather than dwell on the pains of the past, subsequent administrations ought to have built on the foundations already laid to strengthen the state’s economy and social safety nets.

Salaam, who is flying the ADC flag in the 2026 governorship race, said his ambition was driven by a desire to revive people-oriented programmes and restore prudent management of public resources. He accused political opponents of deliberately distorting history to score cheap points, adding that many ordinary residents of Osun still remembered the positive impact of Aregbesola’s policies.

“The focus should be on improving the lives of Osun residents, not on spreading bitterness or distorting history,” Salaam said. He promised that, if elected, his administration would revive people-centered welfare programmes, boost support for small businesses, and prioritize education and healthcare.