The cold war between former Governor of Osun state now Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and the current governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola deepens as a party leader loyal to the current governor, Oyetola accuses aide of the ex-governor, Aregbesola of sending some suspected polticial thugs to disrupt their gathering on Sunday.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the inauguration of ‘4 + 4 = Oyetola’ initiative was disrupted by yet-to-be identified political thugs in Modakeke, Osun state.
Before the alleged disruption of ‘4 + 4 = Oyetola’ inauguration by ex-governor, Rauf Aregbesola aide, several incidents which depict cold war between the duo have existed and followers of the duo have expressed dissatisfaction despite the prolonged silence of their bosses.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the cold war started between the duo after the ex-governor caucus accused Mr. Oyetola of sidelining them from his administration after his emergence of Mr Gboyega Oyetola as the Governor of the state.
The cold war aggravated after ex-governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola was turbaned by the Osun League of Imams and Alfas as the Amirul Waziri-Muuminiina of the State of Osun on Friday 20th December, 2019 which witnessed the absence of top officials of the Osun State Government and low attendance of council chairmen, state honorables who are members of the ruling party.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the current governor of the state, Oyetola reportedly called the ex-governor and told him that he was in Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj.
Although the ex-governor publicly accepted the pleas of the current Governor, Gboyega and reacted to the absence of other politicians and public officials with ‘Eyin Nu Olohun Nu’ which is now a household statement but WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the deputy Governor of the state was at the Secretariat on the turbanning day so as the absence of the Governor’s political group, Ilerioluwa was noticeable.
WITHIN NIGERIA also gathered that there was a public event of commissioning of some projects done by a technological outfit in a secondary school in Ilesa, the hometown of the ex-governor, Rauf Aregbesola which also witnessed the absence of top officials of Osun Government and a personal assistant to the Commissioner of Education, Hon. Bamisayemi Folorunsho was reportedly sent to represent the state government.
Apart from alleged disrespect and neglect of the minister’s programmes in the state which was also extended to the Governor’s side by the ex-governor’s followers, some policies initiated by the ex-governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola which represent his legacies such as “new education framework among others have been reformed and changed while others have been subjected to review by the state government.
While both the former Governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola and the current Governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola are still denying the alleged cold war, the followers of the duo especially Jamiu Olawumi, the current Special Adviser on Education to Governor Oyetola and the former Commissioner on Regional Integration, Bola Ilori have continuously traded words occasionally on policies and party affairs and the ‘E-social media boys’ have done worse.
The alleged cold war took a new dimension yesterday when a party leader who is a loyalist of the current governor of the state identified as Manashe Ehile on Monday told newsmen that the event was nearly marred by the armed men, who stormed St. Stephen’s ‘B’ Primary School, Famia Road.
According to the party leader and governor’s loyalist identified as Ehile, the 12 suspected political thugs revealed that Rasheed Opatola, the ex-special adviser on environment to Aregbesola as their sponsor after the political thugs were empowered.
“One particular man called ‘Ori’ was said to be destroying the billboard of ‘4 +4 = Oyetola at the venue. But when we got to the venue, we calmed people down.
“Later, some thugs were sent to disrupt the event. We were able to identify and apprehended some of them and they said Rasheed Opatola sent them.
“About 12 of them were apprehended and we later released them after they apologised and confessed that they were sent,” Ehile narrated.
Reacting to the allegations leveled against him, the ex-governor Rauf Aregbesola’s aide, Rasheed Opatola spurned the allegations.
He said that he did not send anyone to disrupt any awareness campaign of Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
Opatola further disclosed that he was in an APC meeting alongside 18 other leaders of the party on Sunday where they were discussing the progress of the party in our local council development area.”