I was a member of the inauguration committee of then Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State in 1999. Senator Babafemi Ojudu was the chairman. Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, former commissioner for works in Lagos State, two-time governor of Osun State, former minister of interior and now general secretary of the newly formed coalition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), was also a member.
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‎My recollection of Aregbesola was that of a scruffy looking man, with his ‘tebliq’ trousers. What he had going for him at that time was his capacity as a grassroots mobilizer in Alimosho, the most populated local government in Lagos State.
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‎After the inauguration, Tinubu decided to use Rauf as the arrowhead of a new party structure independent of the Afenifere elders. Thus, he appointed him as commissioner for works and made his office the vehicle to compensate party faithful. The new structure started as BATCO (Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organization) and later became Mandate Group. The existing structure at the time was the Justice Forum led by Baba Olatunji Hamzat (of blessed memory).
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‎As a result of his appointment as commissioner for works, Aregbesola became very influential. He, Aro Lambo and Tokunbo Afikuyomi were virtually in control of the party. I recall one evening. I was with Governor Bola Tinubu at the guest house. He was using the guest house at Isaac John in Ikeja GRA at the time. While we were discussing in the study room, Aregbesola came in and joined the discussion. At one point, Governor Tinubu asked Aregbesola; “Rauf, have you ever given Mayor Akinpelu a contract?” Aregbesola was surprised. Then he said, “Mayor does not need a contract.” Governor Tinubu then replied, “what do you mean he doesn’t needn a contract? These are the guys you should empower.” Aregbesola turned to me and said, “Mayor, we will see later.” After we left the governor, Aregbesola told me that “Mayor, if you need a contract, you have to see me in the office.” I asked when and he said anytime from midnight. “Midnight, why?”, I asked. He replied that it was from midnight that he attended to party faithful. I told him that midnight was too late for me. That was why the contract never happened.
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‎When Asiwaju Tinubu decided to win back the Southwest states that were lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a result of the trickery employed by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, who deceived the leaders of Afenifere into supporting him, it was Alhaji Lai Muhammed, Governor Tinubu’s chief of staff, that he sent forte. Babatunde Raji Fashola who later became governor of Lagos State, replaced Lai Muhammed. Then Asiwaju asked Aregbesola to move to Osun State to contest for governorship. That was how the Oranmiyan movement was formed. The battle was fierce because the sitting PDP governor in Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, was on ground. After a fierce contest, Aregbesola couldn’t retrieve his mandate until after the Appeal Court judgement. That was how Aregbesola became governor of Osun State.
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‎While he was fighting for his mandate in the court, Governor Tinubu didn’t appoint another to replace Aregbesola as commissioner for works. That post was kept for him in case he failed at the Appeal Court.
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‎Apart from assisting him in becoming the governor of Osun State, Asiwaju still allowed Aregbesola to control the party machinery in Lagos State. He was that powerful. So powerful that he and late Bayo Osinowo ‘Peperito’ were responsible for Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s failure to get a second term ticket. They were the ones who influenced his removal. Ambode didn’t have any problem with Asiwaju Tinubu! So, it is not out of place to say that Aregbesola owes his political success to God and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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‎How did Aregbesola pay his benefactor back? When he became governor of Osun State, Asiwaju Tinubu influenced the appointment of his cousin, former Governor Gboyega Oyetola (now a minister) as Aregbesola’s chief of staff. After spending his constitutional two terms as governor, Oyetola signified his intention to succeed Aregbesola. Meanwhile, Aregbesola had someone else in mind. Eventually, Asiwaju prevailed on him to allow Oyetola to succeed him. He agreed but was not happy.
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‎Perhaps, because he didn’t support the candidature of Oyetola initially, Aregbesola’s relationship with Oyetola became fractured. Each had his own faction and the party was divided down the line. As the 2023 general elections approached, things became very bad. A bitter Aregbesola held Asiwaju Tinubu responsible for not only imposing Oyetola but also for not calling Oyetola to order. He threw decency to the winds and started attacking his benefactor openly. He was aware that Asiwaju Tinubu was contesting for president but he didn’t care. He joined the ‘Abuja gang’ who were determined to deny Tinubu the presidency.
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‎The shocking aspect of it was when Aregbesola openly humiliated and derided Asiwaju Tinubu. In the presence of his supporters and the media, Aregbesola said, Tinubu did not deserve the respects he accorded him! He said he had realized that Tinubu was playing God and he had asked God to bring him down! Perhaps the most shocking was when he mocked publicly that Asiwaju had started urinating on himself, which was blatant falsehood. Many were astounded at Aregbesola’s latest attitude. Could this be the same Aregbesola? What could Tinubu have done to him to deserve this level of humiliation from him? In truth, Tinubu was not even the cause of the problem. The issue was between Aregbesola and Oyetola. The betrayal was shocking and disappointing. Naturally, there’s bound to be disagreement but the ‘omoluwabi’ in you determines how you show loyalty.
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‎Governor Raji Fashola who was handpicked as chief of staff succeeded Asiwaju Tinubu as governor of Lagos State and was almost denied a second term. When Tinubu ‘s predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari, picked Fashola as minister, the rumour was that Tinubu did not support it initially. Prior to that, some nasty stories emerged in the media, well packaged to rubbish the image of Governor Fashola. Throughout the scenario, Fashola never attacked Asiwaju publicly. Yet, he was hurting. There was an interview he granted in the press where he said “may our loyalty never be tested”. Despite this, Fashola proved to be an ‘omoluwabi’. He never insulted or openly criticised his boss.
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‎Not Aregbesola. He is still continuing with his perfidy. Instead of him finding a way to make amends for his betrayal, he has joined the enemies of Asiwaju Tinubu in the so-called coalition party, ADC. He not only joined the party, he is holding a principal post as the secretary general, boasting that their coalition would stop Asiwaju Tinubu from getting a second term as president!
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‎This is the same Aregbesola that Asiwaju Tinubu met as a struggling party man in 1999 and made a commissioner and later governor of Osun State. Now that Tinubu is president, should a man like Aregbesola be in a gang-up against his benefactor? Aregbesola is a religious man. He should know that no man can repay good with evil and get away with it.
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‎There’s a Yoruba song I would like to share with Aregbesola.
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‎_“Kosi’dariji f’eni t’oba da’le”_
‎_“Kosi’dariji f’eni t’oba da’le”_
‎_“Kosi’dariji f’eni t’oba da’le”_
‎_“Ayafi k’o ba’le lo”_
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‎In simple terms, there’s no forgiveness for a traitor.