Bemoans Campaign of Calumny Against Minister
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Osun and the South West by extension, must be resolved to engender the continued growth and prosperity of the land.
The resolution, which will involve key actors in the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister of Inferior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, according to South West based Civil Society and Community Based Organisations, will lay to rest a repeat of the past, which has affected the strength of the region in Nigeria’s power play index.
The organisations also want members of the party especially in Osun to stop their attacks demeaning the former Governor of the state and Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, noting that he is a true son of the soil.
The groups noted that based on the standing cordial relationship between Tinubu and Aregbesola, especially since 1999, it was important for the duo to settle their differences and move forward to chart a course for the development of the region especially, Yorubaland as the 2023 election draws nearer.
The CSOs held: “That Comrade Aregbesola is well known to the progressive forces in the South West. His reputation, strength of character, honesty of purpose, transparency and credibility are not in doubt. His iconic political heritage could be traced back to the 1980s as a strong member of the National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANs). He was a stormy petrel in the labour movement and a striking personality in the anti-military campaign alongside prominent Nigerians including Dr. Beko Ransom-Kuti, Prof Wole Soyinka, Pa Anthony Enahoro, Oweh Lakenfa, Salisu Lukman, the late Chima Ubani, Joe Okei Odumakin among many more progressives.
“Aregbesola is loyal to Asiwaju to the extent that the loyalty would not betray his loyalty to God and to the people. When loyalty to God and the people contests with being faithful to an individual, it is traditional that a decent man will choose God and the people.
“Aregbesola served Osun State without blemish. He did not acquire wealth for his personal interests neither was he involved in primitive accumulation of wealth as evident even amidst rumours mongering and fairy tales that lack any substance.
‘Asiwaju has on many occasions commended Comrade Aregbesola as a honest, upright, dutiful and diligent fighter. We recall that while Comrade Aregbesola performed these feats in Osun, he was a source of pride to Asiwaju Tinubu.
“Our position is that the attacks on Aregbesola are unnecessary and must stop. We also realise the need for reconciliation between the key actors because continued face off is not in the interest of either of the two.
“We do not belong to the school that thinks the crisis must linger. It is an ill wind that blows no one any good. It is a dispute that can set the entire South West on the path to internal combustion. We strongly believe that as humans, none of them is perfect. The very reason they must close ranks in the interests of all.
“That this crisis has continued to blossom is a weakness on the part of the two and a show of lack of capacity to manage dispute on the part of all of us. In politics, disagreements are normal. When such disputes are nipped in the bud, it is for the benefit of all, including the society on whose behalf both actors contend.
“We, the civil society, grassroots Organisations and community based groups across Yoruba territories will set up a committee that will explore the potentials of reconciling the two personalities bearing in mind that the disagreement is also on certain principles upheld for decades by our Comrade, Rauf Aregbesola. We shall be briefing the people and the press on the outcome of the people-driven peace initiative that we have put it place,” the groups concluded.
