June 2, (THEWILL)- Last week, former Interior Minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregebsola came out of hibernation and threw a big party to celebrate his 67th birthday. Although quite a number of people were in attendance, including his core party loyalists, close friends and members of his family, prominent members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC – from state governors to ministers to party members failed to attend.
This was very unlike the past when Aregbesols wielded so much power, particularly during his time as the Lagos State Commissioner for Works and later, Governor of Osun State, when everyone felt obliged to kowtow to him. Save for his wife who has stood by him through thick and thin, it is obvious that anyone who doesn’t want to be in the black books of President Bola Tinubu should do well to keep Aregebesola, his former ally, at arm’s length.
Recall that the cold war between the two began after Gboyega Oyetola, a former Osun State governor and now Minister of Blue Economy, reversed some of Aregbesola’s policies in the state. Aregbesola felt betrayed that Oyetola, who was his former Chief of Staff, would make some moves that would turn the people of the state against him. He therefore made a vow not to support Oyetola’s second term bid. He anointed Moshood Adeoti, a former secretary to the state government as his own candidate, a move that Tinubu was not pleased with.
Tinubu felt betrayed that Aregbesola could turn his back against his anointed candidate, Oyetola. The rift however turned to an open friction during the All Progressives Congress primaries. Aregbesola openly accused Tinubu playing God in the party. He also accused Tinubu of planning evil for Osun State and swore to ridicule him.
Fortunately for Aregbesola and unfortunately for Oyetola and Tinubu, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took advantage of the situation and emerged victorious in the governorship election held in the state.
While the war between Aregbesola and Tinubu raged on, many eminent personalities attempted to wade in to reconcile the two but it all ended in futility. At the twilight of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration, Aregbesola tried to worm his way back into Tinubu’s heart by actively getting involved in the campaign for the return of Babajide Sanwo-Olu as governor for a second term. He also issued a public apology to Oyetola and pulicly acknowledged Tinubu as his political benefactor. Unfortunately, these gestures did nothing to assuage Tinubu’s feelings. This may perhaps have prompted him to want to take matters into his own hands. Sources reveal that Aregbesola plans to allegedly float his own political party, obviously to be limited to only Osun State. However true that turns out to be remains to be seen.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
