Without mincing words, the unity that has existed in the Osun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is under threat with a fierce internal battle, occasioned by the clamour for the West Senatorial District of the state to produce the party’s candidate and the choice of candidate by the leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
In this piece, LATEEF DADA examines issues.
Tinubu’s anointed one Apparently working towards the emergence of Chief of Staff, Gboyega Oyetola, as the flagbearer of the party, the APC refused to the lift ban on political activities until May 21 when all the 27 aspirants under the party trooped out to the party’s Secretariat to declare their intention in line with the party’s directives after paying N500,000 each.
Since activities to succeed Governor Rauf Aregbesola began in the state, the zoning arrangement has remained the major issue as aspirants and leaders from the West zone have continued to clamour for it.
Their quest is strengthened by the rumoured that Oyetola has been anointed by Asiwaju Tinubu, and it has remained a topical issue for discussion among political gladiators and watchers.
Aregbesola, in many occasions has denied endorsing anybody to succeed him whenever he was asked by news men at various functions.
But, while people awaited the party to lift ban on political activities, Aregbesola began the touring of the Senatorial zones, consulting elders of the party and seeking support for the party’s candidate in the September 22 governorship election.
Aregbesola’s smart move Some political observers are of the opinion that the consultation of Aregbesola was to introduce his choice of Oyetola to the party leaders, while some stated that the foundation for Oyetola’s emergence as the standard-bearer of the party might have been tactically laid with the conclusion of the January 27 parliamentary local government election, which was won by the party’s candidates in all the 389 wards, and this is enough for Aregbesola to have his way, even if the party insist on going for primary.
According to the party’s state Director of Publicity, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, by virtue of the party’s constitution the likely delegates for the primary are the cabinet members, lawmakers in the House of Assembly, Senators and member of the House of Representatives.
Therefore, the governor’s group may have in its kitty, a sizeable number of delegates, who would vote to determine the governorship candidate of the APC, a development that has been said to be capable of swinging things in Oyetola’s favour if eventually other aspirants refused to step down for him.
Will other zones concede to West? Now that aspirants have been allowed to begin their consultations, insistence of all aspirants from the West Senatorial district to present candidate from the zone has been registered, as all aspirants have reportedly signed agreement to remain in the party, if any of them from West eventually got the party’s ticket.
But, other aspirants maintained that eligibility, competence, practical knowledge of modern day governance and effective political leadership of Osun State should not be submerged by the calls and agitation for zoning.
The major issue in the ruling APC as election draw nearer is the insistence of the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, to contest the election and never to step down for any aspirant.
Some political lovers of Adeoti alleged that he was denied some rights as SSG just to starve him of funds to prosecute his ambition.
They alleged that many projects that ought to be signed by the SSG are being diverted to the Chief of Staff, and Adeoti was being placed under monitoring by the government, and was also restricted from forming any group.
Adeoti as road block? Indirectly confirming the allegation of maltreatment against him, Adeoti, who was the first aspirant to begin his campaign activities at the party Secretariat, recently declared that his patience does not mean that he fears anybody, vowing that his formal declaration would surprise his critics who have been calling him names because of his gentility and loyalty to the party.
He said he was aware that people are abusing him that he does not have money to prosecute governorship election, adding “they said I do not have money to print faze cap or vest, let alone sponsoring campaign”.
Adeoti explained that he was patient because the party has warned the aspirants not to go out until the party lift ban on political activities.
He said he has told Governor Rauf Aregbesola, that he would continue his Six Point Integral Action Plan and correct those areas that need correction and implement some projects that need implementation.
“I told Ogbeni Aregbesola at a programme that he cannot finish the Six-Point Integral Action and I would be the Governor to continue the programmes.
I have noticed where there is need for implementation and I would correct it.
“Because I obeyed the party when they said we should not go out, some people are saying Adeoti that cannot print vest or cap.
Is not that I fear anybody.
I will soon go out and you will all see”, Adeoti vowed at the party’s Secretariat.
Recalling how he was jailed and spent some times in both Ilesa and Ile-Ife prisons during the administration of Olagunsoye oyinlola, Adeoti said he has suffered in the party and now deserves to be Governor of the state.
Confirming the patience of Adeoti, the party Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famoodun, described Adeoti as a politician that has seen all, having being the party Chairman during the era of Alliance for Democracy, AD.
He said he was not surprised by the crowd and support for Adeoti because he is a strong pillar in the party.
“Adeoti is a person that knows the beginning of the party.
He has been in the party since Alliance for Democracy, AD era before I joined during Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.
If it is money, Buhari would not have won, if they are talking about politician that knows what people want, it is Adeoti.
He has patience and he love the party very well,” Famoodun stated.
He seems to have the support of the former Interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, among others.
Though Chief Akande has refused to declare his support openly to any of the aspirants, he has been warning the party not to make a wrong choice.
Also, it remained a rumour that some members of the APC have been fraternising with the opposition PDP in case the party refuses to pick candidate from the West, and the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Hon.
Soji Adagunodo, at a function, hinted that many forces from the APC will be trooping to his fold very soon.
Adeoti likely to jump ship? Apparently confirming the likely to dump APC if not given “fair play”, while declaring his intention at the party’s Secretariat recently, the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission and one of the APC aspirants, Elder Peter Babalola, openly declared that all aspirants from the West have given condition to remain in APC and the party must play along.
Babalola, who was the former Chief of Staff to Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, warned the party against picking candidate outside the West Senatorial District of the state.
He told the chairman that all aspirants from the West would support whoever the party picks among them and would remain in the party.
He said, “Mr Chairman, Central Senatorial District has used 11 and half years, the East will complete their 8 years in November, West has only used some months which is not up to a term.
If you don’t choose Peter Babalola, choose whoever you like in the West.
“All aspirants in the West have met with our leaders and we have agreed not to leave the party.
We have signed agreement to support whoever the party choose among us.
Recently, a meeting was held between Aregbesola and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon.
Najeem Salaam, in Lagos, with Governor Ambode and the party chairman in Osun state, Gboyega Famoodun, in attendance.
The outcome of the meeting was the insistence of political aides of the Speaker that the West is not going back on zoning.
A close associate of the Speaker disclosed that the meeting was called to persuade the Speaker to step down for the Chief of Staff, Oyetola, but the Speaker told them to let him consult his people.
Now that the APC has fixed July 7 for its primary election, political watchers are waiting for the party to either impose the Chief of Staff as being rumoured or allow proper method to take its course.
The fact still remains that the option is to impose Oyetola and loose many bigwigs to the opposition, or allow primary to hold and have SSG, Adeoti, who some people believe is having the party’s structure, as the party’s candidate
