By Banji Ayoola
Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State has rejected the decision of its elders’ caucus that the immediate former Interior minister and former governor of the state, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola should tender a “genuine apolology” as the only condition for his acceptance back into the party.
Aregbesola just returned home to a jubilant reception by mammoth crowds in Osogbo the state capital, and his Ilesa home at the expiration of his tenure in the former administration of the immediate ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
APC announced its position through its state chairman, Mr. Tajudeen Lawal, who stressed that all members of the party involved in alleged anti-party activities during the last governorship and general elections would be sanctioned at the appropriate time.
He spoke while addressing the members and supporters of the party in Ilesa at the weekend at the homecoming reception and award for some former political office holders in Ijesaland.
Also, he urged members of the party, now the opposition in the state, not to lose hope, noting that with hard work and commitment, the party would reclaim power, which it lost to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state in 2026.
Lawal said: “A statement credited to the elders’ caucus of the party that the immediate past Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, should seek genuine forgiveness to find his way back into the party was not the position of APC in the state.
“We are the party and we know the members of our party. We know who voted for Tinubu and Oyetola during the last presidential and governorship elections.
“At the appropriate time, the party will come out with its resolution on the matter.
“We are not restructuring the party. The party is intact in Osun under Baba Bisi Akande and Gboyega Oyetola. At the appropriate time, we will reveal the plans we have for those who engaged in anti-party.
“I read what the Igbimo Agba of our party said but they are in the advisory role of the party. The party is going to say its position about it. People should just wait a little bit.”
In a statement by its chairman, Chief Sola Akinwumi on Friday, the party’s elders’ caucus in the state had urged Aregbesola to seek genuine forgiveness for his misdeeds to find his way back into the party, noting that the party maintained its open door policy for anyone with genuine intention towards the development of the party.
According to the statement: “The APC, Igbimo-Agba Osun Chairman- Chief, (Engr.) Sola Akinwumi in wide consultation with the body’s members resolved as follows:
“That the All Progressives Congress (APC) Osun State Chapter remains intact while the leadership is exploring all avenues towards ensuring a united and focused Party.
“It has come to the knowledge of this body some comments made by the Fmr Gov/Minister of Interior H/E. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola during his recent event in Osun State and wish to inform the public that our Party’s door is opened to any Party member who is ready to apologize genuinely to the Party for his/her misdeeds.
“Finally, this body deeply appreciates all committed and loyal members for their unwavering and firm support for the Party despite all odds”.
Speaking at the Freedom Park, Osogbo, during the reception welcoming him back home from Abuja after his tenure, Aregbesola said it was unfortunate that ‘some people’ mismanaged the affairs of the APC and ran it aground.
He said he had in 2019 called for the unity of the party with a warning that failure to unite different interest groups in the party would not produce any good result.
The former governor of the state said: “I have come back to thank you, the people of Osun, and those who made it possible for me to progress in politics.
“I need to thank Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, it was through him that I became a Commissioner in Lagos state and a two-term governor in Osun.
“I appreciate former President Muhammadu Buhari; after God, it was him that made me the Minister which I just concluded.
“I am here today to seek a restructuring of the party. I didn’t offend anybody, but whoever feels that we offend him or her should forgive us.
“We seek forgiveness from those who thought we offended and those who sought our downfall.
“We were here in 2019 after the Supreme Court affirmed the mandate of the former governor. I called for unity in the party. I warned that disunity will not produce any good results. But the devil didn’t allow them (those who handled the party affairs) to listen.
“We seek forgiveness from those who are smearing our image, though we never offended them.
“We supported them with all I have to see to their success. I didn’t ask for anything from them. I need to emphasise that I didn’t ask for anything from them. But they chose to repay evil for good.
“However, we are here for the restructuring of the party. That is why we are begging anybody that feels that we offended him or her to forgive us.”
Jubilant supporters had indeed trooped out to welcome Aregbesola back into the state following the completion of his tenure.
He was received by a mammoth crowd in Osogbo the state capital, and Ilesa where he showed appreciation for the warm reception accorded him by thousands of members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and other residents of the state.
The former governor of the state paid homage to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, and the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Adekunle Aromolaran in appreciation of the traditional rulers’ support for his political career.
