Destitute Return To Osun Streets
- As Oyetola, Adeleke Halt Aregbesola’s Rehabilitation Programme
DESTITUTE have continued to litter and occupy some parts of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, despite efforts by previous administrations in the state to tackle the menace.
Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the population of destitute, mentally unstable people and street urchins have continued to increase in some major streets and strategic places in Osogbo despite the government’s efforts.
Some of the areas that have been either completely or partially taken over by these categories of people are under the popular Olaiya flyover as well as the November 27 Interchange bridge along Gbongan/Ibadan road in Osogbo.
Others are the Oke-Fia roundabout, Aiyetoro junction, Old-Garage and Igbona areas of the metropolis.
OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the destitutes returned to the streets shortly after the expiration of former governor Rauf Aregbesola’s tenure, who built a rehabilitation centre at Ilobu, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government, where these categories of people were being treated and reunited with their families.
But the programme stopped immediately when his successor, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, assumed office in November 2018, while the rehabilitation has been abandoned till date.
Recently, the present government of Governor Ademola Adeleke announced plans to revive the place, adding that the centre had been looted during the Oyetola administration.
Speaking recently at the 2025 District Conference of the Rotary International District 9126, Aregbesola stated that no destitute was found on the streets during his administration.
He posited that his administration established agencies for taking care of the aged and the mentally challenged.
Aregbesola said, “Interestingly, all the mentally challenged were rehabilitated and reunited with their families because they all got well, without exemption, all of them.”
Since Aregbesola left office, both Oyetola and Adeleke are yet to continue the rehabilitation programme, which is contributing to the increase in the number of destitute on the streets.
The Special Adviser to Governor Adeleke on Special Needs, Kamil Aransi while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in July 2024, said the Governor is interested in putting the rehabilitation centre back to shape and renovating it for its purpose.
He said, “My team and I had visited the abandoned and looted Rehabilitation Center in Ilobu on the instruction of Mr. Governor, as he’s interested in putting it back in shape. I can assure you that the facility will soon be renovated for the purpose intended.”
But ten months later, the place is yet to be revived as promised by the Special Adviser.
All efforts to get his reaction on Tuesday were to no avail, as he did not respond to the text messages sent to his phone.
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
