Rauf Aregbesola, the former Minister of Interior, should apologize for reportedly conspiring against President Bola Tinubu and the APC.
On Monday in Osogbo, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy Sunday Akere advised Aregbesola.
At a gathering hosted by concerned Muslim academics and clerics in the South-West of Nigeria in Oyo town, Oyo State, the Osun APC leader responded to Aregbesola’s Sunday words.
At the reception, Aregbesola praised President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari for his political accomplishments.
Akere said that Aregbesola sabotaged the APC in the February 25 presidential election and the July 16, 2022, Osun State gubernatorial election.
Both Osun State elections saw the Peoples Democratic Party beat the APC.
Aregbesola to apologize for his anti-party activities.
After the apology, he and his supporters should come before Prof. Isaac Adewole’s committee to reposition APC in the state and await the party’s decision.
Aregbesola and his allies opposed Tinubu in the presidential election. They altered their tune once the ex-Lagos governor won.
“Everybody knew Ogbeni Aregbesola and all his followers engaged in anti-party activities in the 2022 governorship election and all the series of elections we had in 2023, and there is nobody that will engage in anti-party activities and not be punished.
“We expect him and his followers to apologize, appear before the Professor Adewole repositioning committee, and state their case. After they accomplish what is necessary, the party may accept their apologies.
“When Ogbeni was governor of Osun, he always said that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu helped him, but when things changed, he said that ‘they have all prayed to God to bring Tinubu down.’
We knew God did not answer their petition after the February 25, 2023 election. It’s fantastic that Ogbeni is finally acknowledging and thanking people who helped him succeed.
Lani Baderinwa, who was Aregbesola’s second Information Commissioner, denied the claims.
“No evidence exists that Aregbesola and his men worked against Tinubu.
“Anti-party activity is a serious crime that carries full punishment, except when used as a witch-hunt. Before proceeding, the claim is usually thoroughly investigated and proven factual.
“In Osun, no one has presented any concrete evidence on the allegations being bandied around and mouthed like a running tap. “You wonder what they were thinking when they bragged and shouted that Ogbeni and his allies were not needed in the buildup to the elections,” he said.
