Osun 2018: Adeleke’s Death Scuttles Aggrieved APC Leaders’ Permutation

By Bolaji Olabode

Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s death may be described as one death too many for some aggrieved leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who had begun move to resist a purported plan by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to impose candidate on the party for the 2018 governorship election.

Findings by CityMirrorNews showed that Adeleke, who was representing Osun East Senatorial District at the Senate was the adopted governorship aspirant for the aggrieved APC leaders and they had sealed agreement of their support for his ambition.

The medium learnt that the APC leaders had suggested defection from the APC to Accord Party alongside some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state if Aregbesola eventually succeeded in imposing candidate.

But Adeleke, according to sources, rejected the suggestion on the ground that he would not leave the APC whatever the case might be.

According to sources, the coordinator of the aggrieved APC leaders, Alhaji Fatai Diekola who had recently stirred the hornet’s nest by saying that he and some other members of ‘liberation front’ would resist any imposition attempt on the 2018 governorship election and send Aregbesola back to Lagos.

CityMirrorNews learnt that Adeleke’s choice was borne of the fact that the zoning arrangement for the governorship ticket favoured him and that he had the financial muscles, political clout and structure to engage Aregbesola.

It is believed that Osun West Senatorial District should produce the next governor of the state, being the only zone that has not had governor or deputy governor since 1999.

The medium gathered that regular meeting had been going on between Adeleke and the APC leaders on the permutations for the 2018 with some elective and appointive position being negotiated for some key players in their political game.

CityMirrorNews learnt that Mrs Nike Omoworare had been temporarily chosen as running mate to Adeleke. Mrs Omoworare’s choice was to represent the Ife’s interest.

A source said a final meeting was to be held on Mrs Omoworare’s choice before Adeleke gave up the ghost on Sunday April 21.

It was also gathered that Adeleke’s team was contemplating on a former commissioner in the Aregbesola’s first term from Osun Central Senatorial District as Chief of Staff or Secretary to the State Government.

The sources confided in CityMirrorNews that the said commissioner had initially been fielded as running mate before the slot was zoned to Osun East and Ife in particular.

The medium learnt that Adeleke’s team was to meet on Monday, April 22 before the Senator died a day earlier.

Findings revealed that Adeleke’s team and supporters started the insinuation that Adeleke was killed because of his governorship ambition.