By Temidayo Akinsuyi

LAGOS- The die appears cast in the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Con­gress (APC) as loyalists of the immedi­ate past governor of the state and current Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, have vowed to unseat Governor Gboyega Oyetola in the forth­coming governorship election scheduled to take place on July 16, 2022. ­

The aggrieved APC mem­bers under the aegis of The Osun Progressives (TOP) also said they are in total control of the APC structure in the state.

According to the APC cau­cus, even though they have sev­eral aspirants in their camp who wants to contest against Oyetola, they are looking for­ward to a consensus arrange­ment whereby only one of them will pick the form, add­ing that whoever they field will defeat the governor.

Speaking with Daily Inde­pendent, Adelani Baderinwa, former Commissioner for In­formation and Strategy and factional Secretary of APC in Osun State, said they have the full structure of the party with them and the grassroots.

He also expressed confi­dence that his faction will win the primary whether it is direct or indirect.

According to him, many APC members who are dis­enchanted with the manner the Oyetola administration has been piloting the affairs of the state have left the Ileri Oluwa faction which belongs to Governor Oyetola and have teamed up in the TOP camp.

“All along, we have always been saying it that there are aspirants in our camp and we are certain that they will take forms. If they are able to settle within themselves, they might say just one person should go and take the form.

“For whatever that it is worth, all these aspirants be­long to our group and if they can resolve within themselves, then it is fine by us. To be hon­est with you, that is what pays us most if only an aspirant could emerge from our camp which is the authentic APC.

“There is no doubt that we have the grassroots with us. The people of Osun are solid­ly behind us. The governor’s camp has done everything wrong when it comes to man­agement of the party and the people. They don’t even know how to properly manage the government.

“So, the people are fed up with them and they are with us. Even people who should have gone to another party because of their disenchant­ment with how the governor’s camp is managing the affairs of the state, they are with us. We have been able to convince them that we are the better al­ternative to what is happening now.

“We are certain that if it is going to be a free, fair and cred­ible election, any candidate that we push forward, especial­ly if we are able to resolve that only one aspirant should pick the form, that person will win the primary. We are certain of victory whether direct or indi­rect primary”.

Also speaking on the claim that the crisis in the two camps have been resolved, Baderin­wa said there is no reconcilia­tion between the TOP and Ileri Oluwa camps at the moment.

“They must be in delusion and lying to themselves. They know the truth only that they refused to allow the truth to set them free. For whatever that it is worth, simply put, there is nothing like reconciliation. There is no resolution of the conflict and there is no recon­ciliation, at least none to my knowledge.

“Like the British told Gowon in 1966 after the coup that you cannot continue to have the part, when you can have the whole.

“By virtue of what we have on ground today, by the grace of God, we are having the whole of the APC structure. They are aware of this and that is why they are lying to people that there is reconcil­iation and we have pledged to support the governor for a second term”.

When contacted, a key loy­alist of the governor in the Il­eri Oluwa faction who asked not to be named, said Baderin­wa and other members of the TOP are “hallucinating if they claim they are in control of the APC in Osun State.

“I think he is still asleep and dreaming. When next you see him, pour a bowl of water on his head so he can wake up to reality. There is no need to join issues with them. The prima­ry is around the corner. We will soon know who is in control of the APC structure in the state”.

Also speaking, a political aide of the governor said they don’t want to join issues with the Aregbesola camp.

“We have decided to ignore them. We realise that when­ever we respond to them, it gives them joy and a kind of attention they don’t deserve. We don’t have their time. Gov­ernor Adegboyega Oyetola is busy working to the delight and admiration of Osun people who gave him their mandate. He has also been receiving endorsements from various groups asking him to go for an­other term. Let the other people continue saying whatever they like. We won’t join issues with them” he said.

Speaking with Daily Inde­pendent, Senator Olusola Ad­eyeye, a chieftain of the APC in Osun, warned that if the party does not put its house in order, it risks losing the state to the opposition PDP.

“The crisis in Osun APC is something that makes me extremely sorrowful because I know what we went through before we were able to dislodge the PDP from the throne of power in Osun. I know that if we are careless, it will not be easy for us to retain power in Osun.

“My own preference is that APC should retain power in Osun and I will do everything in my power to ensure that. But I don’t have all the powers. If my party people are either cursed or foolish enough to mishandle their own internal conflicts, then maybe it will be a way for us to learn a lesson that will teach us to learn how to disagree without becoming disagreeable”.
https://independent.ng/osun-2022-aregbesolas-loyalists-vow-to-unseat-governor-oyetola/

May perpetual crisis never cease from APC for inflicting so much pains on us.

Instead of useless PDP to capitalize on this crisis, they won't

Chest beating as usual....

Tinubu need to get these two together for his good.

Tinubu doesn't need Aregbesola again

Ahmed0336:
Tinubu need to get these two together for his good.

hisexcellency34:
Tinubu doesn't need Aregbesola again

Aregbesola have few loyalists that will vote during primaries and secondary. So all party loyalists are important.

Minority will have their say but majority will have their way

Ahmed0336:


Aregbesola have few loyalists that will vote during primaries and secondary. So all party loyalists are important.

Ok

I think they mean business

yanabasee2:
Chest beating as usual....