The official withdrawal of loyalists of the immediate past Minister of Interior, and former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been described as a relief to the party’s progressive family in the state.
An aspirant for the Oriade State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Fanimokun Samuel Ibikunle, stated this while speaking to newsmen in Osogbo on Tuesday. He described the decision of the Aregbesola faction, popularly known as Omolubi, to exit the APC as a positive development for the genuine progressives within the party.
Fanimokun highlighted the political damage caused by the faction during the Osun governorship election held on July 16, 2022. He further alleged that the group worked against the APC during the February 25, 2023, presidential election, which saw President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerge victorious.
The aspirant noted that no matter the internal crisis within a political party, working against one’s party should never be an option for true progressives. He emphasized the importance of dialogue and reconciliation to resolve conflicts, rather than undermining party interests.
Comparing the situation to that of Hon. Lasun Yusuf, Fanimokun pointed out that when the former APC chieftain aspired to become the governor at all costs, he left the party honorably for the Labour Party (LP). He criticized Aregbesola’s loyalists for remaining in the APC while allegedly working for the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Fanimokun recalled that during Aregbesola’s tenure as governor, political groups such as the Oranmiyan group coexisted with other factions in the APC. Despite disagreements, other leaders and groups remained committed to the party, prioritizing its survival above personal interests.
He lamented that Aregbesola, who was once a prominent figure promoting the APC, had become an irrelevant stakeholder due to divisive politics and power struggles that affected former APC State Chairman Moshood Adeoti and former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam.
With Aregbesola’s loyalists disassociating from the party, Fanimokun expressed hope that the former governor would remember his previous assertion that late political icons such as Baba Bola Ige and Baba Obafemi Awolowo would choose the APC if they were alive. He emphasized that despite the recent developments, the APC remains the true home for progressives.
He concluded by urging genuine members of the party to remain steadfast and committed to rebuilding the APC in Osun State, stressing that the exit of Aregbesola’s faction presents a renewed opportunity for unity and growth.
