‘Osun APC Jittery of Aregbesola, Omoluabi’s Popularity’

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Omoluabi Progressives Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State formed by former state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has noted that the immediate-past state Governor, Gboyega Oyetola-led faction of the APC is jittery of the political strength and popularity of Aregbesola and the Omoluabi caucus, who has for decades been the pillar of progressive politics in Osun State.

In a statement issued, signed and made available to THISDAY yesterday by Adelowo Adebiyi, former chairman of the state APC, he said: “The purported litigation on Omoluabi was a clear case of frustrated individuals who had thought that their mischiefs, shenanigans and lies would have negatively affected Aregbesola’s popularity, but were surprised that his popularity and influence is waxing stronger.”

He stressed that Omoluabi is now a household name in the progressive family and Osun State politics in general, and that that must have been giving the Oyetola-led APC headache to the extent of approaching the court on frivolous claims.

According to him, ‘’We had at inception declared that Omoluabi “is a caucus within the APC. We are not a faction. We are the genuine foundation members of the party and we have no intention of abandoning the ship of the party as it navigates the most turbulent waters. We are no sprinters, but long-distance runners and we will still be standing when all the fair-weathers have gone.

“May we school the litigants and their followers that a caucus or group is different from a faction and that the right of assembly and association is constitutionally guaranteed. May we also remind the plaintiffs that a group called the Legacy was formed within the APC in 2017 in support of Oyetola’s governorship ambition without any eyebrow from any quarters? What about the IleriOluwa group?”

Adebiyi emphasised that the Oyetola-led APC has again shown its sign of weakness and inability to manage party affairs with lack of character and competence.

 “We reiterate that the Oyetola leadership of the APC is inimical and toxic to the development of the party.

“Of a fact is the continuous move by Oyetola and his followers to frustrate any reconciliation move to unite Aregbesola and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

Adebiyi emphasised further that they did not want the crisis they created through mischief and spiritual means to settle between Aregbesola and Tinubu so as to continue calling themselves what they are not.

The former APC leader said: “The political jobbers who had assumed leadership positions and directing the affairs of the party now would no doubt continue to fan the embers of discord for their selfish purposes at the expense of the party.

“On the anti-party allegations against Aregbesola and some members of the Omoluabi caucus, we have continued to challenge our accusers to bring out evidence(s) to prove their allegation, which they have failed to do for over a year.

“If there is anyone (guilty of anti-party by definition) to be totally expelled and blacklisted from the APC, the person should be Oyetola, who, because of his hatred for Aregbesola and attempts to assume the leadership of the party, maliciously vandalised the political duplex building bequeathed to him by his predecessor. He introduced bitter politics and division to Osun State APC with an attempt to bring down Aregbesola at all costs.

“While Oyetola was busy casting aspersions on Aregbesola and destroying his legacies, he was indirectly demarketing the APC and poisoning the minds of the electorate against the party. An example of this is the mismanagement of Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme and O’ Meal vendors. It is on record that Oyetola didn’t recruit any OYES cadets in spite of the depletion of officers of the scheme to about 6,000 from 20,000.

“The social mobilisation programmes put in place by the progressive administration of Aregbesola were discontinued; party members were not treated well and all the channels of empowering the party members were blocked. Instead of deploying the political power with him to serve the people, he was only serving his cronies.”

Adebiyi noted that “This is another evidence of Oyetola’s selfishness. Oyetola does not have the capacity to lead a party at the ward, not to talk of local government or state, because he is petty, cheap and embittered.

“Since they (Oyetola’s APC) have filed the suit, we will wait to have concerned individuals served before adequately replying to the watery issues raised by the misfits who have seized the APC and made it rudderless.”