A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun, Prince Adebayo Adeleke, affectionately known as Banik, has come hard on the former governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for making himself instrument of balkanisation and destruction in the progressive fold, stating that the former governor could no longer be regarded as a governor produced by the party.
Banik expressed this opinion on Wednesday at the senatorial meeting of the party in Osun Central held at the party secretariat, Ogo-oluwa, Osogbo, when making clarification to some statements attributed to the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru ( SRJ).
According to Banik, “Statement made by our National Secretary, Senator Basiru Ajibola SRJ was poorly reported. He didn’t say Ogbeni Aregbesola had ceased to be a former governor of the state. What he said was Ogbeni had by his past anti-party activities and continued combative attitude to the party cut himself away from us, hence it is safe to say he is no longer part of the party. We in APC know Aregbesola is no longer our member.”
The former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs recalled how Aregbesola mobilized his lieutenants and supporters to work against the party during presidential, governorship and other elections, as well as how he mocked the party for its electoral misfortune at the Supreme Court.
Banik said a committed member of the party, particularly a former governor and minister should not have engaged in brazen anti-party activities as Aregbesola did, advising the Ijesa-born politician to seek political truce with his leader and benefactor, President Bola Tinubu, if he is still interested to be accorded the deserved respects within the party.
