- “Aregbesola is a distraction, no longer our member”, Oyetola’s Faction Declares
- “We are the real politicians, true members who connect to the grassroots”, Says Aregbesola
By Abiola Olawale
The conflict within the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has escalated as factional groups led by former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the incumbent Minister of Marine And Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, continue to battle for control of the party.
Trouble started when Aregbesola, a two-term Governor of Osun, launched membership registration for the Omoluabi Progressives, a group under the APC in the state.
The former Governor launched the registration on Saturday at Ilesa, his country home.
In a statement signed by the group’s organizing and publicity secretary, Abosede Oluwaseun, members of the party are to register via its official website.
The secretary also announced that the website will grant members access to track its activities and global membership registration.
While Speaking during the ongoing exercise at Ward 08, Ilesa East Local Government Area of Osun state, Aregbesola said that his faction plays a significant role in deciding the state’s election fortunes.
Aregbesola said: “There is no one who has not felt the wind of the Omoluabi Progressives in the state. Those who knew what we did to them as opposition has started talking because they know our capacity and the fact we are the real politicians who deeply connect with the grassroots.
“There is no doubting the fact that God is with us. By the time we unveil our direction, everyone else who shares in our vision will come on board. I want to assure you that God is with us.
“I want to charge you to continue to mobilise for us and bring heavyweight politicians into the Omoluabi Progressives. It is factual that all the people of Osun love, adore, and are behind us. We must, however, not relent and continue to propagate our virtues and core ethos.”
However, in a swift response, the Faction of the party loyal to Oyetola, announced that the erstwhile minister of Interior was a distraction in the party and has ceased to be a member of the party.
The faction, in a statement issued after its stakeholders’ meeting at the party secretariat in Osogbo, Osun state, stated that the party no longer recognizes Aregbesola as a member.
According to the Oyetola’s faction statement signed by its state chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, the official electronic membership registration will commence tomorrow, Wednesday, June 4, 2024.
Lawal said the membership registration will kick off on Wednesday as directed by the national secretariat.
He said: “We are discouraging our members who are loyal party APC members not to go there to register with the group of Aregbesola because Omoluabi as a group is not a member of our party in Osun state.
“Rauf Aregbesola as far as we are concerned in Osun APC, is no more a member of APC. We have taken steps three times to notify the national secretariat that Aregbesola is giving us distractions in APC affairs in the state and then the party at the national should do the needful in dealing with him.
“He is a national figure. But if we cannot handle his case in this state, we have to refer his matter to the national secretariat and I know, soonest that they are going to act on it.”
Also, a former deputy governor of Osun State, Benedict Alabi, while speaking at the meeting passed a vote of confidence on Oyetola, saying, “Anyone who is calling for the sack of Oyetola is only political, everyone knows that he is a silent worker and achiever. When you are having a new ministry, you need to put a lot of structures in place. I am sure that those who call for the sack of Oyetola under political gimmicks will regret what they have said when they see the outcome of what they have put in place.”
