The feud between the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and the Governor Gboyega Oyetola may not end soon, as Aregbesola has openly declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is sharply divided.
Aregbesola, at the commissioning of the Digital Nigeria Centre (DNC) at Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesa, confirmed the existence two factions in Osun APC: one chaired by Rasaq Salinsile and the other chaired by Gboyega Famodun and loyal to Oyetola.
Before Aregbesola visited the state, yesterday, to commission the ICT centre, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan, had said, on a radio programme, that the former governor was not in support of an anti-Oyetola group – The Osun Progressives (TOP), adding that the absence of Aregbesola at the meeting of the caucus with the Senator Abdulahi Adamu-led National Reconciliation Committee was a proof that TOP members had been acting without the support of Aregbesola.
Omipidan said: “I am not sure our former governor (Aregbesola) has stated anywhere that he won’t be supporting my principal (Oyetola). I want to believe that members of TOP have been acting without the support of Aregbesola. When the reconciliation committee visited Ogun, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun met with them.
“But when the reconciliation committee visited Osun, I am not sure you saw it anywhere that our former governor (Aregbesola) was with the Adamu-led committee. I am not sure you saw him with TOP members.”
In what appeared like a reaction to the claim that TOP’s activities against Oyetola’s administration and the party did not have the blessing of Aregbesola, the minister declared that he belongs to the caucus and that TOP birthed a faction in the party which is being chaired by Salinsile.
At the commissioning, the governor’s representative, the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Olawale Babatunde, said Aregbesola confirmed the division in the party and that he supports TOP and its activities in the state.
Aregbesola said: “For those who don’t know, APC has divided into two here (Osun). When it’s time, we will settle it. The caucus that birthed our own faction of APC is called TOP. Those wondering whether I belong to TOP or not should open their ears widely. I am TOP, body and soul. And the chairman of TOP is Adelowo Adebiyi.”
He appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, who was also at the event, not to be biased in handling political crisis in the state.
According to Aregbesola, the state was peaceful when he was the governor between 2010 and 2018, adding that such is no longer the case in the state since he left office.
