The Oyetola That I Know! By Hon. (Otunba) Olusegun Ayodele Fanibe

I deemed it necessary to exercise my right to speak as a bonafide member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and one of the party Chieftains in Ifeland.

My missive is without sentiment but facts as observed for over seven years.

I reminisced about my decades of experiences in politics and I can’t stop wondering why some people have wrong perceptions about the Hon. Minister, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola’s leadership in Osun State.

The Oyetola that I know is the last man standing to rebuild, strengthen and maximize the potential of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State.
Oyetola ideologies to change the status quo and or existing narratives of the Osun APC is the reason why he’s faced with an army of critics.

Without doubt, any reasonable individual would understand that the tasks to improve and or make things better may not prevail so easily as critics will not give up without a fight against ideologies that may hindered their ways.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is facing similar battles despite his commendable efforts to put Nigeria in order.

Hon. Minister Alhaji Isiaka Oyetola in his peculiar character of calmness and prudence nature is usually misinterpreted, especially among politicians. Some will say he’s stingy, some will say he’s not friendly, some says he’s too rigid. However I say; his prudent nature is what some politicians misinterpreted.

I have worked closely and learned from a few political leaders in three different political parties, and confidently I can beat my chest to tell the world that the kind of leadership offered by some of them is worth the time and loyalty I put into serving them.

Though my experiences with each varies, but the scenario staged by their critics are somehow similar.
Looking back into serving and or allying with His Excellency, Hon. Minister Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, His Imperial Majesty, Senator Rashidi Ladoja (Olubadan of Ibadanland) and the emerging political power player in Osun State in person of Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), the Osun State APC governorship candidate, I have no regret, I can only be thankful.

What some typical politicians perceived to be the weaknesses of His Excellency, Hon. Minister Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola are the qualities that I assumed had contributed greatly to his success in life endeavours.
Oyetola that I know is very accommodating, reserved, a good listener, focused but unlike a character that typical politicians would embrace and cherished.

Factors affecting the efforts of committed APC party members and leaders are rooted from the time of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and later compounded by the defection of a political bigwig who hijacked a large chunk of the existing APC party structures in his capacity as the party national officer.

These factors I mentioned above are still rattling the Progressives fold but ignored.

Take for instance; in the just concluded gubernatorial election, AMBO did everything possible including total submission to the party and do all he could to keep the party united. Still fingers were pointed to cast blames.

The Hon. Minister for Marine and Blue Economy may not be a perfect man, but he’s still the most reliable strength that our party can ride on for betterment and adequate reward system.

Hon. (Otunba) Olusegun Ayodele Fanibe.

Ife Central LG. Ile-Ife.