Osogbo-born businessman and philanthropist, Engr Kehinde Raji has debunked insinuations that his philanthropic gestures towards the downtrodden in his hometown of Osogbo is politically motivated.
Raji, in a statement on his Facebook page, condemned the rumour that former Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola gave him some money to destabilse the state ahead of 2022 governorship elections.
The businessman has been distributing what he calls Ileya package to residents of the State, few days after he empowered over 300 small scale businesses with N20,000 each to boost them.
The Chief Executive Officer of Aaraj Group said he drew his inspiration from the Holy Bible and he’s not ready to be part of the scramble for power by the camps loyal to either Aregbesola or Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
Raji added that he’s a businessman and not a politician, calling on politicians within the State to stop peddling and sponsoring unfounded rumour against his person.
Read his full statement;
STOP THE BLACKMAIL:
My attention has been drawn to vicious insinuations making the rounds in the state, some elements in the political circles attempt to politicise my philanthropic gesture and perniciously alleged that I had received huge amount of money from the former governor Of Osun state and Hon. Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to destabilise Osun APC for the purposes of Osun 2022 governorship election,from another account, my detractors say I’m working for Osun PDP.
Ordinarily, I would not have bothered responding to unpublished stories and politically inspired tales but it’s important I make the following points unequivocally clear to the public:
1) I must instantly correct the impression that my philanthropic gesture is hinged on political calculations. First of all, I’m a humanist, as a Christian, I learnt early about the spiritual art of helping the weak and the poor,I do not give out money for the attendant popularity or display of obscene wealth. I draw my inspiration from the Holy Book, Proverbs 19:17 says “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” Proverbs 22:16, however warns against oppressing the poor: “Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty”
2)I have no dog in the fight between the camps of Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. I had always told people who curiously asked about my interest in Osun politics that I am not a politician, I’m a businessman. My philanthropic gesture is for everyone who is genuinely in dire straits irrespective of political persuasions, It’s uncharitable and deeply hurting to rumour that I had received money from Abuja to destabilise Osun APC. This is patently false and politically wicked. For the record, I have not received a dime in cash or contract from any politician within and outside Osun state. I work very hard for my money and I enjoy His grace. Please stop the blackmail!
3)Helping the underprivileged is an ethic that should be encouraged in our society. The malicious rumour about my act of philanthropic gesture is disturbing but it will not deter me. I don’t go about with an ambulance-load of cash looking for people to help,I receive requests and recommendations for assistance and act on them impersonally.
4) They said Aaraj is working for Osun PDP. This is no news. It was a terrible and dubious charge invented in 2018 against me. Whatever is the motivation of the elements behind this charge, I leave them to God. In the words of Uthman Dan Fodio: “Conscience is an open wound…”but all my doors is opened to any political party who VALUES me but certainly not for any political office for now.
The simple truth is that every act of kindness is significant, It is not the amount that matters, but the very thought itself, that gesture that reminds us of our collective humanity, I will not stop!go to Isale osun where I hail from,see poverty written all over majority of my people,I can’t eradicate it but we shall together alleviate it in JESUS MIGHTY NAME.
