Finally, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola put paid to guesses and controversy on whether he was still a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Nigeria as his Campaign or is it Political Office otherwise known as Oranmiyan House which situate at Aregbe Bus-stop, Opposite First Bank, Gbongan Road, Osogbo wears a completely new look.
The white color painted high rise building which hitherto wore the colors of APC and with several poles bearing flags of the party and the National flags adorning its frontage until last weekend now has a distinctly new look.
Everything and all things except the walls of the building retained its original look. All hitherto insignia and identity of APC and or the gigantic photos of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu which formerly adorned the building have been removed. They have been replaced with another equally large size images of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo also Late Chief Bola Ige and with his own picture inserted in the middle.
The building which formerly belonged to Late Chief Bayo Salami until when later sold to Ogbeni however retained its name – Oranmiyan House. But the huge inscription of APC has finally caved in to OMOLUABI. Recall Aregbesola called his new Group Omoluabi Progressives of Osun (OPO).
Although, it has been argued by many politicians and analysts that Omoluabi is not a known or registered political party. They said the people and electoral arrangements in Nigeria is not in any way familiar with OPO.
Recall Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was a two term former governor of Osun before he was later appointed to serve for another four years as the Minister in charge of Interior Ministry. He served in these capacities as a member of the ACN which was to later metamorphosed into the APC of today.
Aregbesola has been engrossed in a war of attrition against his former boss and benefactor now president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Rauf, jolted many people with some deadly comments that he made against Tinubu especially at those peak period to his emergence as the APC presidential candidate.
Rauf, In a manner unbecoming of a virtuous (Omoluabi) person that he claims to be drew the irk of many people against himself by his incessant and open hard comments against Tinubu. One of such occasions was when the former governor said he has made supplications to Allah for the relegation of Asiwaju. This particular statement and his other open mockery of his erstwhile boss did not augur well with many Nigerians. Hence, their individual and collective decisions to distance themselves from him and all his activities.
Although, to a few people who didn’t understand deeply the situation they erroneously thought that the imbroglio was between Rauf and Oyetola. But this is not. It was a fight between Tinubu and his erstwhile subordinate.
Some blames it on Aregbe’s inordinate ambition.
Many people even believed it is unfair for a typical Yoruba person to go to such a reckless extent which Aregbesola went against his boss.
It will be recalled that he once mocked Tinubu at Ilesha when he said Tinubu who was the then presidential candidate of his party was a medical case of Enuresis. This is a term used for wetting or passing urine without control at an age when it would be expected.
By this latest development it means Aregbe’s return to the APC may have been finally foreclosed. Rumor has it that Ogbeni is already hobnobbing with the tinkerers of a Third Force idea.
But can any third force idea work especially in a state like Osun where all that they understand for political party is APC and or PDP?
Akoni Oodua Ayeniromo- Keep watching events as they unfold.
14/5/2024
