Exclusive: Osun 2018: Aregbesola’s plot to impose Tinubu’s cousin, Oyetola as APC flag bearer divides party

Indications emerge on Wednesday that Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State might be forced to support the emergence of Gboyega Oyetola, his Chief of Staff and cousin to the national leader of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the flag bearer of the party in the governorship election scheduled to hold on September 22 in the state.

According to a close source who spoke anonymously to newsclickng.com the recent plot has put the party excos at logger heads especially because of the revered Asiwaju Tinubu’s support.

According to the source: “Aregbesola and some of his trusted aides including the likes of Biyi Odunlade for Ife Zone, Gbenga Ogunkanmi for Ayedire and Rasak Salinsile for Iwo Zone, Kolapo Alimi and Bashiru Ajibola for Osogbo/Irepodun, and Victor Fatoki have been alleged to be behind the scheme.”

Fatoki, it would be recalled, is the Personal Assistant to the State Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famoodun, was given three council areas to work on, while Idowu Korede, the State Commissioner for Sanitation, has been given the task of dealing with list of members from Ijesa axis of the state.

The source further hinted that to achieve this objective prominent members of the party have been invited in recent times on several occasions to Osogbo, the state capital, with juicy offers including appointments as Senior Special Advisers to the Governor among others.

According to the source, at one of the meetings, attendees were handed
lists of exco members in their respective areas to work on.

Specific orders were said to have dished out to remove names of deceased members, as well as those that had crossed to other political parties.

Those invited to meetings were specifically instructed to ensure that names of members that are favourably disposed to a particular governorship aspirant be instantly removed.

“The next stage, it was further scooped, is to place all the approved exco members on special salaries and other allowances to ensure the emergence of the governor’s anointed candidate during the forthcoming party governorship primaries,” the source added.

Party leaders in the state have also expressed concern that the likely anointed candidate, Oyetola if victorious at the polls will serve as a compliant governor who will easily help in covering Aregbesola’s track during his eight year reign as governor.