Aregbesola Senatorial Ambition and Fadahunsi’s Rumoured Defection to APC

By Michael Olanrewaju

As political parties and politicians continue to realign and strategize for the 2018/2019 governorship and general elections in Osun State, there are insinuations that the Ife/Ijesa Senatorial District candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections, Chief Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi might be planning to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

CityMirrorNews learnt that the relationship between Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Fadahunsi was a major concern for members of the PDP, who are suspecting that the governor might have succeeded in wooing the PDP chieftain to the ruling party.

It was gathered that Aregbesola has been persistently discussing with Fadahunsi on possible defection to the APC in preparatory for the 2018 governorship and 2019 general elections.

According to sources, Aregbesola, who is reportedly nursing ambition for the Ife/Ijesa Senatorial ticket of the APC, has always been in close touch with the Ilase-Ijesa born politician despite the difference in their political parties.

At the heat of the August 9, 2014 governorship and 2015 general elections, Aregbesola has a way of calling and discussing with Fadahunsin on the phone as his elder brother, while most of the APC campaigners were always referring to Fadahunsi as Ilase-Ijesa  political warlords and other nauseating names.

The sources added that Aregbesola had in recent time, visited Fadahunsi in his residence in Abuja, Lagos and London, in his bid to woo him
to join the APC and as a way of positioning and fortifying himself for the 2019 general elections.

It was learnt that the governor believe that age would no longer be on the side of retired Deputy Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service to stand the rigours of electioneering campaigns and context another election.

According to the sources, the contact; goodwill and structures built by Fadahunsi would be transferred to Aregbesola if his move to woo him succeed.

Reacting, a Media Aide to Fadahunsi, Pastor  Segun Sam dismissed the report, describing it as a mere rumour which nobody should attached seriousness to.

Sam stated that the relationship between Aregbesola and Fadahunsi should not be mistaken for political affiliation.

He said: “Father (Fadahunsi) and Aregbesola have a long standing relationship. Aregbesola calls father ‘egbomi olowo (my rich elder brother) and father calls aregbesola ‘aburo mi to fine’ (my handsome younger brother. That has been the relationship between the two.

“As at today, Fadahunsi is represent his local government at the proposed PDP national convention. He is a leader of PDP in Osun State. He belongs to the Soji Adagunodo camp of the Osun PDP. He is a committed member of the PDP. If he leaves PDP, that means he has resigned from politics.

‘The report is a figment of imagination and surreptitious campaigns. Fadahunsi remains not only a staunch member of the PDP, he is indeed one of the financiers in the party in the state. He has used his vast experience, business, connections and resources as contributions in building the party to what it is in the state today.”