The immediate past governor of Osun state state who is also the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and his successor, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, are set for show of might and test of power on Friday November 27, when Oyetola would be two years as Governor of the state.
Who should control the party, All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun state between the duo of the governor and the minister have been a subject of debate in the state. Both Aregbesola and Oyetola might be pretending that they are in unity, events that have occurred and actions of their political aides have showed that inferiority fight occurs between them.
When Aregbesola was to be installed the Amirul Waziril Mumini of Osogbo, sometimes in December last year, Oyetola traveled out of the country with his wife and was said to have instructed members of his cabinet not to attend the function. The Chairman of Osogbo South Local Council Development Area, Hon Hakeem Olaoye, who attended the installation because of his loyalty to Senator Ajibola Bashiru in the camp of Aregbesola, was impeached until he begged for his reinstatement.
The same way Oyetola dogged his predecessor on January 16, this year, during the birthday celebration of former governor of the state, chief Bisi Akande, in Ila-Orangun. Oyetola did not arrive the venue until Aregbesola and Minister of Information, Lai Muhammad, have gone around 5pm.
However, the coming November 27, 2020 celebration has generated reactions and may be the avenue for the duo of the minister and the governor to eventually test power and display who have power over the state. The duo may show strength and test popularity in the coming event.
While the governor prepares to celebrate his two years, the minister plans to storm the state for what he tagged “ten years of progressives in Osun,” on the same date to be climaxed with the governor’s celebration.
One of the programmes slated for November 27 by some people believed to be loyal to Aregbesola reads: “Special Invitation to a Public Lecture as Part of the Effort to Deepen Political Education and Mobilization in our Party.
The public lecture titled “Ten Years of Uninterrupted Progressive Government in Osun, was said to be facilitated by the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus in the National Assembly.
The group said, “the lecture is a form of social awareness and sensitization for the good people of Osun to know and appreciate the impacts and benefits of the State’s administration under our progressive party,” the invitation reads. It is scheduled to hold at Adebimpe Events Centre, Ikirun Road, Osogbo, and signed by the Chairman, Osun APC caucus at the National Assembly, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Bashiru, who is also the spokesman of the Senate.
Though, state government has refused to make any comment on the purported plan by Aregbesola to attend the programme, reactions from the party leaders, council chairmen, and others, have showed that Oyetola may flesh muscle with his predecessor.
While allegations and counters accusation continue between supporters of the governor and the minister, leaders of the party were said to be making efforts to settled the matter before the actual day. While the settlement move was on, political office holders have been declaring their support to Oyetola and warning their members to boycott purported ten years of progressives by Aregbesola.
In a statement signed by the Central Working Committee of the Osun State Board of Local Government Education Authorities, the board declared their loyalty to Oyetola and promised not to attend any event come November 27 except the two years celebration of the incumbent governor.
“The Boards of the Local Government Education Authorities (BLGEAs) in the 30 Local Government Areas plus an Area Office pledge our unalloyed loyalty in, support for and confidence in the leadership of our affable Governor and Messiah of our Dear State, Alhaji (Dr) Isiaq Adegboyega Oyetola.
“We felicitate with Governor Isiaq Adegboyega Oyetola on the 2nd Anniversary of his Governance of this State. We are fully committed to celebrating the 2nd Anniversary of the peaceful and progressive tenure of Governor Isiaq Adegboyega Oyetola in Grand Style within the ambits of the extant Laws and Regulations of the State. None of the Chairmen, Secretaries, Community Relations Officers and Members of the Boards of Local Government Education Authorities (BLGEAs) in Osun State would partake in any celebration in Osun State on Friday, 27th November, 2020, other than the Commemoration of the 2nd Anniversary of the ever Progressive Administration of Governor (Dr) Isiaq Adegboyega Oyetola.
Also, Osun APC chairmen in its release titled: “We are not celebrating decade of governance,” distanced themselves from the programme being planned by Aregbesola, saying “the forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Local Government Party Chairmen in collaboration with the forum of Ward Chairmen in Osun State hereby distance themselves from the unwarranted celebrations of 10 years of progressive governance in the state.
“The bodies noted with dismay an attempt by a group of disgruntled personalities who are determined to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the state. The purported celebration of the progressive governance in the state can only be celebrated by the party whose leader is the sitting governor and who, in this case is, His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr). Ishiak Adegboyega Oyetola and the state chairman of the party in the person of Prince Gboyega Famodun.
“You will recall that progressive governance in the state did not start 10 years ago as being speculated in certain quarters. It started in the year 1999 led by His Excellency, Alhaji Chief (Dr.) Abdulkareem Adebisi Bamidele Akande, before it was truncated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the year 2003.
“It smacks of sheer arrogance and utter disrespect to the state’s constituted authorities by a self-seeking person to want to celebrate a decade of progressive governance without the inputs of our revered leaders.Progressive governance in the state is a collective responsibility of all and not an individual.
The Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Osun State, also released its statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Hon Samuel Idowu Abiodun and Bar Olubisi Oladosu, saying that “no never of ALGON would be part of any other anniversary celebration on the 27th November, 2020 other than 2nd year anniversary of Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took the advantage and lambasted Aregbesola for allegedly planning to cause mayhem in the state.
A statement by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prince Diran Odeyemi, called on security operatives to pay more than passing attention to the planned visit by Aregbesola purportedly to mark 10 years of return of progressive administration to the state.
The statement reads: “It is more than mere coincidence that Rauf Aregbesola decided to mark 10 years of his administration on the very day his successor Oyetola wanted to celebrate his 2nd year administration. It is obviously meant to test power and popularity with the use of thugs and hooligans.
Odeyemi stated that the visit had already exposed the bad relationship that existed between the incumbent governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, and his predecessor, and cautioned that rather than come to Osun for any celebration, Aregbesola should endeavor to let the residents enjoy their peace, having left them worst than he met them.
The PDP stalwart also claimed there was no concrete achievement the state recorded other than huge debt of N200B, formation of thuggery tagged ‘State Boys,’ inflated contracts and complete loss of value under the watch of ex governor Aregbesola.
He said, “What is he coming here to celebrate? Where is MKO International Cargo Airport where over N3 billion was spent by Aregbesola? What is good in his administration that Aregbesola left over N200 billion debt according to the National Bureau of Statistics as at November, 2018 when he left government? “Where is our opon Imo, now known as tabloid of fraud awarded to Kabir Aregbesola at the rate of N7 billion? Where is Dagbolu International Market that Aregbesola promised Osun people after spending huge amount of money?
“Aregbesola left N36 months unpaid half salaries to Osun workers and pensioners amounting to N30 billion. Where is Igi iye project of Bola Ilori that swallowed several billions of naira? Where is osunwon omoluabi introduced by Aregbesola government? where is Osun helicopter? Why did Aregbesola refused to pay pensioners their gratuities for 8 years?
“Under Aregbesola for eight years, civil servants were not promoted, Local Governments were fraudulently forced to operate parliamentary system just as we want to ask about O Reap, O -Hub, O-Fish, O pig all of which are failed promises used to syphon Osun’s allocation”
“Aregbesola also bastardised the educational sector by introducing single uniform, renaming of schools, mergers of institutions including reclassification again universal educational system. For three years, consecutively, Aregbesola spent over N4 billion by sending Osun people to Cuba the advantage of which we still don’t know in Osun state,” Odeyemi stated.
The PDP said it was sure no reasonable Osun resident would join Aregbesola’s celebration and urged security to remain vigilant and take proactive steps to prevent impending crisis, should the former governor insist on visiting the state.
