The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State is worsening as a caucus of the party, Omoluabi Progressives, has accused a former governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, of frustrating reconciliation efforts between President Bola Tinubu and Rauf Aregbesola.
The caucus loyal to Aregbesola claimed that Oyetola and his faction in the major opposition party in the state created the crisis between Aregbesola and Tinubu through spiritual machinations and mischief.
In a statement, yesterday, by its leader, Adelowo Adebiyi, a former Chairman of Osun APC, in reaction to a suit instituted by the APC before a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, which sought for the proscription and prohibition of Omoluabi Progressives Caucus, the group accused Oyetola, the current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, of frustrating moves by Aregbesola to make peace with Tinubu.
“There has been no love lost between Tinubu and Aregbesola. Aregbesola is also not on good terms with Oyetola.
“We note that the Gboyega Oyetola-led faction of the APC is no doubt jittery of the political strength and popularity of Aregbesola and the Omoluabi Caucus that has for decades been the pillar of progressive politics in Osun State.
“The purported litigation is a clear case of frustrated individuals who had thought that their mischiefs, shenanigans and lies would have negatively affected Aregbesola’s popularity, but were surprised that his popularity and influence are waxing stronger.
“To the glory of God, Omoluabi is now a household name in the progressive family and Osun politics in general. That must have been giving the Oyetola-led APC headache to the extent of approaching the court on frivolous claims,” the statement stated.
It added: “Of a fact is the continuous move by Oyetola and his followers to frustrate any reconciliation move to unite Aregbesola and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They do not want the crisis they created through mischief and spiritual means to settle so as to continue calling themselves what they are not. The political jobbers who had assumed leadership positions and are directing the affairs of the party now would no doubt continue to fan the embers of discord for their selfish purposes at the expense of the party.
“We have continued to challenge our accusers to bring out evidence(s) to prove their allegation, which they have failed to do for over a year.
“If there is anyone (guilty of anti-party by definition) to be totally expelled and blacklisted from the APC, the person should be Oyetola who because of his hatred for Aregbesola and attempts to assume the leadership of the party, maliciously vandalised the political duplex building bequeathed to him by his predecessor. He introduced bitter politics and division to Osun APC with an attempt to bring down Aregbesola at all costs.”
“While Oyetola was busy casting aspersions on Aregbesola and destroying his legacies, he was indirectly demarketing the APC and poisoning the minds of the electorate against the party.”
