The rosy relationship between Rauf Aregbesola and Bola Tinubu, which started in the early 1900s, has gone sour.
The duo, Tinubu and Aregbesola, who enjoyed decades of a rosy mentor-to-mentee relationship, have separated and no longer relate politically.
Many public analysts have wondered about what could possibly cause the said sour relationship, but there has been no definite answer.
Some argued that Aregbesola was in bed with Northern oligarchs as a minister and did not want Tinubu to be elected as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Others argued that Tinubu mismanaged the crisis between Rauf Aregbesola, his political mentee, and Gboyega Oyetola, his brother, and chose the latter ahead of the former.
There are several unverified opinions or tales surrounding the misunderstanding between Bola Tinubu and his political mentee, Rauf Aregbesola, but the most verified and accurate is that Aregbesola no longer adores Tinubu as a mentor or leader, and the former is plotting how the latter would be sacked from office through ballot.
Aregbesola, who had described Tinubu on several occasions as his leader, demi-god, mentor, and benefactor, is now the National Secretary of the Action Democratic Congress, an opposition party plotting the removal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leader, Tinubu, from Aso-Rock in the 2027 election.
Aregbesola A Loyal, Dependable Partner, Friend – Tinubu
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as a good, loyal, dependable partner and friend.
Tinubu, in a congratulatory message to Aregbesola on his 63rd birthday on Monday said Aregbesola laid the foundation for the infrastructural development of the State of Osun and turned it to a modern state.
According to Tinubu in the message signed by his Media Adviser Tunde Rahman, the former governor of the State of Osun has provided inspirational leadership in the state.
The statement reads: “Ogbeni Aregbesola has done a lot for the country. He laid the foundation for the infrastructural development of the State of Osun and turned it to what it is today: a modern state.
“He is creative and innovative. He provided inspirational leadership in Osun and now at the centre in Abuja.
“An engineer and political activist, Aregbesola made the difference in Lagos as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure for eight years, in Osun as governor for two terms and at present as Minister of Interior.
ADC will send Tinubu packing in 2027 – Aregbesola
National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Sunday, October 19 stated that his party, ADC, by the grace of God, will take over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria and in most of the states in the 2027 elections.
This was made known by the former Osun governor while addressing newsmen after the commissioning of the state secretariat of the party along Basin Road, Ilorin.
His words:
”If APC is confident of its strength, it won’t be so hyped and charged as to be hounding and hunting opposition all over the place.
“How can we interpret what APC is doing all over Nigeria to us? They are harassing and intimidating all of our members, not just our leaders but nationwide, be it Lagos, Kebbi, Kaduna.
“If indeed they are confident of the strength they are showcasing, one would expect that they will be so calm but reverse is the case, so what does that tell you?”he queried.
“They themselves know that they are not popular and the party that will harvest their unpopularity is ADC.
“Regardless of the grandstanding, by the grace of God, ADC will take over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria and in most of the state.”
15 things you probably did not know about Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, Ilesa-born ex-ally and confidant of President Bola Tinubu
He was born on May 25, 1957
He is a native of Ilesa, Osun State
He attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan where he studied Mechanical Engineering
He served as the Speaker of the Students’ Parliament and President of the Black Nationalist Movement as an undergraduate
He worked as an engineer at Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited and Lagos Airport Hotel
He founded Aurora Nigeria Ltd, an engineering firm
He was a Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007
He was declared the winner of 2007 Osun Guber Poll by an Ibadan Appeal Court in 2010, leading to the removal of then Olagunsoye Oyinlola as Governor of the state
He was sworn in as governor of Osun State on November 27, 2010
He served as Governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018
He served as the Minister of Interior from 2019 to 2023
He is the primary founder of Omoluabi Progressives, a political group in Osun State
He is fondly called the Symbol or Oranmiyan by political associates, loyalists and followers
He is the first politician to ever spend two terms in office legally
He is currently the National Secretary of Action Democratic Congress (ADC)