
Rauf Argbesola
Adebayo Fajinmi & Rose Audu
In a bid to resolve the conflict between Nigeria’s Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his political leader, Bola Tinubu, the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi III, on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting in Ibadan with Aregbesola.
The meeting was held to put an end to the relationship which has lately hit the rock between the duo.
The immediate past governor of Osun had last month in Ijebu-Jesha, blatantly uncovered the tsunami rocking his relationship with Tinubu and his successor, Gboyega Oyetola, whom he has accused of raining political vendetta on the legacy he built for eight years in Osun.
According to a source, Aregbesola had asked the traditional rulers to resolve his feud with Tinubu, who is eyeing the presidential ticket of the APC in 2023 election.
“Rauf Aregbesola came before the Ooni; after he entered, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi joined shortly.
“Nobody was allowed to enter. Nobody was briefed. They later finished and entered their cars. All those photos you see online were taken by their aides,” the source said.
Tinubu, however, was not present at the meeting.
While giving reason for his absence, the media adviser to the APC chieftain, Tunde Rahman said he was not invited.
“Yes, I saw the pictures of the meeting on social media as you did too. Asíwájú Bola Tinubu was not invited to the meeting.
“I can tell you that clearly. I believe the two traditional rulers intend to reach out to him later. But let me say this clearly: Asíwájú Tinubu has tremendous respect for the traditional institution and particularly for the two eminent royal fathers.
“You would recall that only recently during his consultations and engagements with traditional rulers and other stakeholders in Oyo and Osun states on his presidential aspiration, Asiwaju visited and interfaced with HRM Iku Baba Yeye Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and HRM Onirisa, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in their respective domains.
“If you ask me what Asiwaju’s attitude will be to the reconciliation move, of course, he will welcome and support it. Don’t forget that Asiwaju and the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, are from the same political family. Asíwájú appointed him Commissioner for Works for eight years during his time as Lagos governor.
“He also later drafted him into the Osun governorship race and supported him to be governor in Osun for eight years. I think Asiwaju will factor all of that and where both of them are coming from into the reconciliation efforts. He will not oppose the idea.”