Why Tinubu Is Supporting Oyetola Against Aregbesola – Report

All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is said to have thrown his weight behind Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State in the feud between the latter and the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The Osun governor and his predecessor are feuding over the control of the APC structure in the state with those loyal to Aregbesola’s camp constituting themselves into The Osun Progressive (TOP) while the mainstream faction controlled by Oyetola goes by his campaign slogan, IleriOluwa.

Oyetola, who served as Chief of Staff under Aregbesola for eight years, is related to Tinubu. Some leading politicians in Osun reportedly said Tinubu was not happy that Aregbesola did not work for Oyetola’s victory in the 2018 governorship election in Osun and was equally unhappy with Aregbesola’s political moves in Abuja.

Aregbesola served under Tinubu as Works commissioner in Lagos for eight years and had a huge influence in Lagos politics even when he was governor in Osun State.

According to a report by Daily Trust, APC members in the IleriOluwa and TOP, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, acknowledged that Tinubu is supporting Oyetola in the crisis between the governor and Aregbesola.

One of the leaders of TOP said; “Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is supporting Oyetola against Aregbesola. It is expected. It’s normal for him to support his brother. They want to cut Aregbesola’s wings because of Oyetola. We don’t know Aregbesola’s offense. 

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should play the role of a leader rather than supporting his brother against the minister.”

But a member of the IleriOluwa group told the newspaper that Aregbesola’s issue with Tinubu was not because of Oyetola.

He said, “Oyetola was not the reason for the demobilisation of Aregbesola’s structure in Lagos politics. It’s because of his political moves in Abuja to contest for the presidency. It’s not as if Tinubu is supporting Oyetola against Aregbesola.”