The conflict engulfing the ruling party’s Osun chapter took a new turn on Friday, with former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Lasun Yusuf, describing the state governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, as wicked for opposing his predecessor, Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola.
Infighting over who controls the party machinery in the state has splintered the APC in the state, delaying its organization for the governorship contest next year. It has resulted in the establishment of two parallel executive teams, each commanded by Oyetola and Aregbesola.
Yusuf is a member of the minister’s side, and he said on Thursday that he will run for governor in the state’s next election, despite warnings that the state governor should be permitted to run for a second term on the party’s primary ticket.
Those fighting Aregbesola, he claimed, are nasty and self-centered.
On Friday, Yusuf appeared on Rave FM’s discussion show, the transcript of which was made accessible to InsightnaijaTV.
He claimed that the previous Aregbesola made significant sacrifices to reclaim the state for the progressive party and, as a result, should not be excluded from state politics.
“In the quest of claiming Osun for progressive, Rauf Aregbesola did very well, he led from the front, he fought the battle together since November 2004 to 2010 when we were declared the winner. That man is a fantastic human being, whether we are on the same page or not, he fought me, we had our differences and I never blamed him, he did so well.
“Whoever declared Aregbesola persona non-granta is selfish, self-centred and wicked. We knew what we went through before we could get Osun state to the progressive fold, it was horrible”, he said.
He expressed his goal to become governor of the state while revealing that he is not worried of being rigged out during the primary election in February.
“I dont mind if they rig the primary election in 2022, I want to be the governor of the state”, said the former lawmaker.
He admitted not having any personal issue with the incumbent governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, but added that it will be difficult to join his political group because it lacks people of substance.
“I don’t do groups in politics, I play politics. I don’t really see politicians in ilerioluwa, (Governor Oyetola’s group), but when you look at TOP you see real politicians there, those who actually fought the battle for Progressives, but I don’t belong to the two groups” he added.
Even as the governorship election approaches, the APC is mired in a serious problem.
The party’s peace agreement fell apart, resulting in a situation that members of the ruling party fear would jeopardize the party’s chances of maintaining power in 2022.
