In a compelling speech at an end-of-the-year thanksgiving event organized by the Omoluabi Caucus in Ilesa, Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, the immediate past Minister of Interior and ex-Osun State governor, made gripping revelations about his decision to boycott the 2022 Osun APC governorship campaign.
Aregbesola revealed that despite his efforts to unite the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2022 governorship election, his attempts were thwarted, leading to his withdrawal from supporting the then-Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s re-election bid. This shocking disclosure was captured in a viral video of his speech shared on Facebook by Lekan Arogundade.
Narrating the events that led to his boycott, Aregbesola disclosed a series of broken agreements and unfulfilled promises. Specifically, he recounted a meeting in August 2021 with the representatives of the APC’s ‘overall leader’, during which agreements on party appointments and power-sharing were reached. However, these agreements were allegedly reneged upon, prompting Aregbesola to take a definitive stand against the campaign.
Using piercing rhetoric, Aregbesola conveyed his strong sense of betrayal, emphasizing that he could not support a campaign that openly disdained his faction within the party. His impassioned address in Yoruba language underscored the depth of his disillusionment, as he denounced the campaign’s leadership for orchestrating a smear campaign against him.
Moreover, Aregbesola eloquently outlined his unwavering resolve, asserting that his future political trajectory in Osun State would become unmistakably clear by the end of 2024. This declaration left his supporters enraptured, eagerly anticipating his next move amidst the tumultuous political landscape.
By shedding light on the discord within the Osun APC and his principled stance, Aregbesola’s speech resonated deeply, offering a poignant glimpse into the intricate dynamics of Nigerian politics. His bold defiance and unwavering conviction reverberated with the audience, injecting new vigor into the political discourse in the region.
As Aregbesola’s enigmatic promise of a definitive course of action reverberates, the stage is set for a seismic shift in Osun State politics, with the former governor poised to shape the state’s political trajectory in the near future.
