This is the monthly EDITORIAL of Oduduwa News.
Political relationship is not eternal. But severance of political relationship could be handled in such a way that it would not shatter personal relationship that has been built in decades. Politics is a game of interest and from the principle of individual differences, it is certain that we are bound to have political differences. Naturally, we are bound to differ in principles. Infact, no two individuals could align in a position till eternity.
Political difference is not peculiar to Nigeria only. It is a global phenomenon that has come part of politicking. The ugly side is the throwing of tantrum. Politics in Nigeria is irrespecta of courtesy. Aside this, politics encompasses surprise, betrayal, disappointment and realignment.
Towards the tail end of last year, we did write to posit that the best quote of the year was given by Asiwaju Tinubu. It is re-presented inter alia;
” I have always prepared for betrayal and disappointments; and forgiveness”.
The above is philosophical and highly pregnated with meanings. It is one that worths adoption by every right – thinking citizen. Succinctly, it is an antidote and a shock absorber against frustration and hypertension.
It is not a slip of pen to admit that senator Tinubu made Ogbeni Aregbesola. During the reign of the latter as the executive governor of Lagos state, Aregbesola was the Commissioner of works. A confidant and political strategist to the governor. The bond was so strong that people began to tip Aregbe as the heir apparent. The way the duo used to dance on the podium at any social or political function to the amazement of other dignitaries was lovely. They were like Siamese twins. To Tinubu, Aregbe was a sacred cow. To Aregbe, anyone that insulted Jagaban would incur his wrath.
The hitherto fraternity has been broken. Things have fallen apart and the centre could no longer hold. The benefactor and the beneficiary have turned sworn enemies. What a life !
The problem began at the tail end of Aregbesola’s tenure as the servant of Osun state. He chose to bear the appellate and that of Ogbeni.
At the completion of two term of eight years of Ogbeni Rauf, the issue of who took over from him became a thorny debate. Aregbesola had his favourite but his benefactor thought otherwise. At the end of reconciliation, compromise and sacrifice, Tinubu had his way. Alhaji Oyetola who was then the chief of staff to the Osun State governor succeeded his boss.
The recent vituperation and vitriolic attacks of Tinubu by his political son was the climax of hitherto insinuations of frosty relationship between the duo. Aregbesola reluctantly conceded to Tinubu but he was never contended with Oyetola as his successor.
The issue of who flies the party’s flag at the governorship election in Osun has pitched the duo against one another. To Tinubu, four plus four should herald eight for Oyetola while in the opinion of Aregbesola, Oyetola has had enough. To the latter, one good term does not deserve another.
In a bid to assert authority this time, Aregbesola chose to be confrontational. He became ferocious and his caustic tongue knew no bound. He became so desperate that he spared no one that aligned with Tinubu.
The grey hairs on Baba Bisi Akande was inconsequential, the political sagacity of Omisore was irrelevant, Senator Basiru was a persona-non-grata. Aregbesola did not mince words when he claimed that APC had admitted murders into its fold. This was a direct assault on Omisore who had just formally registered as a card-carrying member of the party. How about Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila whom Aregbesola referred to as Ex-Convict !
To Aregbesola, it was either Alhaji Adeoti and nothingness. The campaign of calumny was so dirty that the Minister of Internal Affairs began to spread falsehood to malign his benefactor. “Won ti n to s’ara” became his slogan. This was a veil reference to the unsubstantiated claim that Tinubu was urinating on his clothes.
The primary election has come and gone. Despite his threat and street show of popularity, Oyetola emerged as APC candidate for the next guber election in Osun. The gap was unprecedented. It was over two thousand votes.
Why did Aregbesola hate Oyetola with so much anger ! The answers are not far-fetched but multi-facetted. All bothered on the jettisoned policies of governor Oyetola which; in the opinion of the former governor, was aimed at exhuming his legacies.
Governor Oyetola’s are: the controversial single school uniform, re-classification of the public school system and the abolition of single-sex schools across the state.
Others are ‘Opon Imo,’ otherwise referred to as the tablet of knowledge, issuance of primary school leaving certificates, change of schools’ identities, ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, operations of Osun State University, merger of basic and high schools across many communities.
It is an irony that Aregbesola was using godfatherism to campaign against Tinubu. Aregbesola became Osun state governor by imposition. He was drafted from Lagos by Tinubu with so much protest from the local APC stalwarts who saw the imposition as a slap. To them, how can a foreigner, who resides in Lagos be fostered on them. So, Aregbesola himself was a product of godfatherism.
Now that the primary has been won by governor, the salient questions are: what becomes of TOP, a fringe group formed by Aregbesola? Will Tinubu forgive him? Will Aregbe work against the re-election of the governor? Will the minister ever remain politically relevant again?
Only time will tell whether he would eventually turn a prodigal son that retraced his steps. At present, he has become a political orphan and a lone wanderer. It might be difficult for him to return to Lagos where a serious anti-Aregbsola protest was staged.