Osun APC Crisis: Governor Oyetola, Aregbesola in supremacy battle over impeachment of LG Boss

By Shina Abubakar

In a silent supremacy war between Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State and his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola, the Chairman of Osogbo South Local Council Development Area, Akeem Olaoye and the parliamentarians in the council have become the first casualties.

Gov Oyetola Gboyega of Osun State

Although, the two gladiators had on various occasions openly declared that their relationship is cordial, however, the in-fighting between their supporters polarised the party itself into two factions- Ileri-Oluwa and Oranmiyan.

The crisis became obvious after the party’s victory at the Supreme Court on July 5, 2019, when the incumbent governor embarked on a street rally to commemorate the judgement.

A few days later, his predecessor came all the way from Lagos for another victory rally organised by his supporters.

During the rally, Aregbesola declared that he had become a ‘Godfather’, in the state political scene.

This, however, did not resonate well among the teeming supporters of Oyetola, who felt Aregbesola cannot continue to explore the governor’s calmness to claim dominance over the party in the state.

However, the silent war reached a crescendo when Oyetola, rather wait to attend the turbaning of Aregbesola as the Amiru Waziri-l-Muminina of the state, embarked on lesser Hajj to Saudi Arabia. 

Besides, only three cabinet members attended the event, and only four out of the 62 local government and Council Development Area bosses elected during Aregbesola’s administration were present at the gathering, including the embattled Akeem Olaoye, Osogbo South, Temilade Olokungboye, Osogbo West Local Council Development Area, Olalekan Omole, Obokun East Local Council Development Area and Uthman Mukaila of Ede Area Council.

Some days later, the council boss was confronted with the impeachment crisis.

The lawmakers, in a letter to the state Assembly, alleged that Olaoye’s removal became necessary due to his flagrant disrespect to the law establishing the council, as well as financial irregularities.

The parliamentarians after impeaching the council chairman elected his vice as acting chairman, ordered the impeached boss to handover document in his possession to the acting chairman or council-manager, pending the ratification of the process by the state Assembly.