Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, and Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are set to
reconcile in the coming days — after being at loggerheads for the last couple
of years.
TheCable reports that both politicians have agreed to
sheathe their swords and work together ahead of the Osun state governorship
election and the 2023 presidential poll.
Tinubu has expressed his interest in vying for the highest
office in the land, but first, he has to secure the ticket of the APC.
The reunion of the one-time “political brothers” is expected
to be witnessed by south-west traditional rulers and prominent members of the
Muslim community.
“A reconciliation has
been fixed. There are two layers to it: one is with traditional rulers and
another one is with the Muslim communities,” a reliable source confirmed.
The reconciliation meeting is scheduled to take place
between Tuesday, March 1 and Wednesday, March 2. Several stakeholders in
south-west politics are expected to be in attendance at the meeting.
TheCable quoting another insider reports that the truce was
arranged by stakeholders “to ensure justice and fairness for all, in the
overall interest of the Yoruba and the APC”.
“The reconciliation
is basically towards ensuring that the APC is victorious in Osun and for the
greater goal of Yoruba land,” the source added.
“They are both open to it and are looking forward to it.”
ORIGIN OF THE RIFT
The cracks in Aregbesola and Tinubu’s relationship became
noticeable in May 2020, when Aregbesola revamped the Mandate Group — a core of
Tinubu’s loyalists — and usurped the closely-knitted caucus for individuals he
could trust.
The former Osun governor sanctioned the relaunch without
Tinubu’s approval, naming Abdullahi Enilolobo, his protege from Alimosho LGA,
as the new leader, while he remained the grand patron of the group.
A subsequent communique signed by 27 party chieftains, who
are members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), had disbanded and
prohibited all factions like Justice Group and Mandate Group.
The then-brewing rift between Aregbesola and Tinubu was
worsened by Gboyega Oyetola’s actions as the governor of Osun.
Although Oyetola served as chief of staff to Aregbesola
during his tenure as Osun governor, he is related to Tinubu and more loyal to
the former Lagos state governor.
Upon assuming office, Oyetola reversed some of the decisions
taken during the Aregbesola administration.
THE OSUN APC PRIMARY
FALLOUT
A few days to the Osun APC gubernatorial primary election,
Aregbesola tore into Tinubu during a campaign event for Moshood Adeoti, his
anointed candidate for the ticket.
The minister had said Tinubu was exalted “beyond his status,
and he turned himself to a god over us”.
Aregbesola added that Oyetola would be ousted from office
for failing to stick to the plan that would make Osun prosperous.
But the minister’s camp was trounced in the primary, with
his favoured aspirant unable to defeat the incumbent governor.
Adeoti came a distant second with 12,921 votes as Oyetola
polled 222,169 to emerge as the APC flagbearer for the July 16 governorship
election.
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