A former chairman of Ede North Local Government, Hon. Mukaila Uthman, has shed light on the internal crisis that led to the exodus of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his supporters from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State.
Speaking on the political program “Gbagede Oro” on Honor FM, Ibadan, Uthman disclosed that local government chairmen were compelled to declare allegiance between Aregbesola and former Governor Gboyega Oyetola just six months before their tenure expired.
Uthman clarified that The Osun Progressives (TOP), now known as Omoluabi Progressives, was not Aregbesola’s creation, but rather the initiative of the local government chairmen. “Aregbesola was not behind the formation of The Omoluabi Progressives. We were behind TOP,” he stated.
The former chairman revealed a particularly contentious incident involving Kolapo Alimi, the current Commissioner for Information, who was denied participation in Oyetola’s administration despite his contribution to the APC’s Supreme Court victory in 2018, solely due to his loyalty to Aregbesola.
Uthman also highlighted the systematic exclusion of several prominent party members loyal to Aregbesola, including former Speaker Najeem Salam, former SSG Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, and others. He questioned the narrative that Aregbesola was the sole troublemaker, suggesting that Oyetola was the architect of the party’s internal crisis.
Furthermore, Uthman revealed that party officials were instructed not to acknowledge Aregbesola’s birthday celebrations, which he found unacceptable. “How many people can take the insult that was meted on Aregbesola?” he questioned.
This revelation sheds light on the complex dynamics within the Osun APC and the factors that led to the division between the Aregbesola and Oyetola factions, ultimately resulting in the formation of the Omoluabi Progressives.
Stay tuned to Newspot Nigeria for updates on this developing news.
Source: Osun Defender
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