Osun 2018: Politicking Heightens As Aregbesola, APC Aspirants Romance Akande

By Olabode Abolaji

Moves to secure the nod of a former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Adebisi Akande by gladiators in the race to succeed Governor Rauf Aregbesola in November, 2018 are heightening by the day.

Findings by CityMirrorNews reporter who is closely monitoring events in the build-up to the September 22 Governorship Election reveal that the gladiators including Aregbesola have turned the home of the foremost APC leader in Ila-Orangun to a consulting avenue to get his support.

Our reporter learnt that in the last three weeks, several aspirants have been visiting the leader to convince him on the need to back them before the APC Primaries are held.

This according to investigations by CityMirrorNews are connected to the statement credited to Akande on November 15, 2017 that “of the three senatorial districts in the state, it’s only the west that has never had the opportunity of exercising a minimum of one full tenure since the state was created in 1991.”

He was also quoted to have said that “save for the truncated administration of the late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, the district has never had another shot at the governorship but rather supported others to ensure success for their candidates”.

A source within the APC Chieftain’s camp told our correspondent in Osogbo on Friday that visits to Ila by leaders especially Aregbesola who has been to Ila thrice in the last two weeks is to romance Akande for his “anointed” candidate.

READ: Akande Endorses Osun West To Produce Aregbesola’s Successor

The source said “You will see that Aregbesola has been visiting Baba Akande frequently in the last three weeks. One, on a private mode on December 25 with his Chief of Staff, Oyetola where a meeting was held. The second one visibly was on the 3rd of January (Wednesday) while another one was secret and shrouded from the media.”

Oyetola exchanging pleasantries with Baba Akande during their Private Visit On December 25, 2017

“During the Wednesday meeting, Aregbesola shortly after receiving an award with Akande by the Yoruba Patriots Movement met with him secretly for about 6 hours. The meeting was said to have started by 2pm and ended around 8pm. It was purely to romance him and make him see reasons why his candidate (Oyetola) from Central Senatorial District should be considered instead of aspirants from Osun West.”

Another source told CityMirrorNews that aside Aregbesola, the current Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, both from the West Senatorial District who are interested in being the Governor have also visited Akande in recent weeks.

Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam

Osun SSG, Alh Adeoti

The sources however did not disclose to our reporter what will be the Chieftain’s final decision as more aspirants are expected to visit him in the next few weeks to rally his support.