Rauf Aregbesola, the immediate past Minister of Interior and former governor of Osun State, has officially launched a new caucus within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, known as ‘Omoluabi’.
Aregbesola emphasized that this initiative demonstrates his continued dedication to the party, recognizing that political parties are a convergence of various interests and inclinations.
The members of the caucus were carefully selected from the 332 wards in Osun State. Each local government area is represented by five caucus members.
In a statement issued by his media adviser, Sola Fasure, it was revealed that the former governor launched the Omoluabi Caucus on Tuesday in his hometown of Ilesa, Osun State.
While describing Omoluabi as one of the several caucuses within the state, Aregbesola clarified that this caucus is not a faction but rather a coalition of like-minded individuals in Osun State.
“The Omoluabi tendency is a caucus within the APC; it is actually one of the caucuses in the state. 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 not sprinters but long-distance runners, and we will still be standing when all the fair-weather individuals have gone,” Aregbesola affirmed.
He also added, “Today, we gather here to reaffirm our commitment to the progressive ideology and politics passed down to us by our great past heroes, starting with Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Chief Bola Ige, and other progressive icons who have left an indelible mark on our political landscape.”
Reflecting on the challenges faced by the party in the recent elections, Aregbesola said, “Emerging from the ashes of the near decimation of our party in the 2022 governorship election and the general election earlier this year, we must rise and regain our strength, reclaiming our position in the political landscape of Osun.”
“We have stood at this very juncture before, following the 2003 election where our party suffered defeat and hit rock bottom in the state. It was at that moment that like-minded progressives under the banner of Oranmiyan emerged, mobilizing our members and the people of the state into an effective electoral force that won the 2007 governorship election, ushering in a remarkable two-term administration and successfully handing over power to a successor from our party,” Ogbeni Aregbesola concluded.
