Osun 2022: Aregbesola, Oyetola test popularity at APC Primary

The superiority battle between Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola will come to the fore today during the All Progressives Congress’ governorship primary.

Aregbesola had fallen out with his successor who he described as brother of former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinunu.

Aregbesola, a one-time loyalist of Tinubu, had recently depicted him as a betrayal who forced Oyetola on the people of Osun State.

He has since endorsed former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti to replace Oyetola.

A statement issued by his Media aide, Sola Fasure on Monday said Oyetola had deviated solely from the true tenets of the All Progressives Congress while those at the helms of affairs have also jettisoned true democracy and the principles which the party and its heroes stand for.

But Tinubu has reportedly kept faith with his man. Savouring the euphoria of his success at the screening exercise, Oyetola had, during his re-election campaign, said his performance in office thus far was enough to ensure his electoral victory at the APC primary and the governorship poll on July 16.

“Let me say this, my performance in office in all areas of endeavour, as I speak today, is enough for me to win the party’s primary and the state’s governorship election. By every standard, we have done so well within the last three and half years, and I have been able to justify the confidence reposed in me by the people. I have been very much involved in the party; I’m not a novice when it comes to the issue of party administration,” he said.

Oyetola said he did not take the people for granted because of his enviable record of achievement hence his visit to the 34 local government areas to campaign on why he should be re-elected.

“I have been going around to ask for the support of members of the party in all the local government areas of the state, so I am prepared,” Oyetola said.

However, Adeoti was quoted after screening as saying that Oyetola was installed by Tinubu in 2020 and that he (Adeoti) defected from the APC in 2020 to contest on the ticket of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) because the primary of the APC was abruptly derailed.

“We had prepared between 75-80 percent for the primary before it was scuttled at the eleventh hour. Ekiti State primary was conducted based on direct but, when it came to Osun, they changed it to indirect on the instruction of the emperor who happens to be the leader of the party,” Adeoti said.

This time, the ex-SSG promised to remain in the APC even if Oyetola succeeds in picking a second term ticket.

There has been much display of bravado by the loyalists of the key political gladiators and power brokers in the run-up to the primary.

In the last 72 hours, for instance, the different camps have engaged in a verbal war, hurling missiles at perceived adversaries, surrogates and their principals.

The situation has been characterised by the open declaration of war against a political godfather, with a threat to pay him back in his coin as exemplified in how the second term bid of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was torpedoed in 2020 by high wired political intrigue in Lagos APC.