How Aregbesola, Lasun’s Clash was Averted at Pa G.O Lawal’s Birthday in Ikirun

By Oluwamayowa Ojo

CityMirrorNews has uncovered the reason behind the absence of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yusuf Lasun at the 90^th birthday of a leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Pa. Gbadamosi Lawal held last Saturday in Ikirun.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Hon Yusuf Lasun

The medium learnt that Pa Lawal and other politicians from his camp dissuaded Hon Lasun from attending the programme to avoid a clash between him and Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Apparently, Pa Lawal and his political followers do not want to be labeled ‘pro Lasun Yussuff’ group. The Deputy Speaker is a governorship aspirant for the 2018 governorship election.

There are insinuations that there exist a cold war between Aregbesola and Hon Lasun after the emergence of the later as the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives against the directive and wish of the APC national leadership.

Investigation revealed that Hon Lasun had visited Pa Lawal a day to the birthday programme at his residence in Ikirun, where he promised to grace the occasion.

It was gathered that the lawmaker gave the celebrator a sum of N500, 000, N100, 000 to each of his wives and N100, 000 to the APC in Ifelodun Local Government.

L-R: Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Abdulrauf Olawale, Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the celebrator, Pa G.O Lawal at the 90th birthday ceremony.

The ‘party’s money’ was allegedly received by an ally of Pa. Lawal, simply known as Dr Demola.

A source within Pa. Lawal’s camp confided in CityMirrorNews that a former commissioner in the state who hails from Ikirun put a call to one of Aregbesola’s aides, informing him of Hon Lasun’s readiness to attend the birthday programme and the need to convince the APC leader not to allow him to attend.

It was gathered that when Pa Lawal agreed to the proposal, a Special Assistant to Hon Lasun, Mr Kehinde Lawal, objected to it, describing the decision as hypocritical and uncivilized.

Lawal, who is a son to the celebrator, reportedly confronted his father and his co-traveler in the decision, saying: ‘when you know you are not going to allow him to come to the party, why do you collect money from him, why do you send him an invitation. You do not want the governor to know you are with him, yet you collect his money”?

CityMirrorNews learnt that the invitation card sent to Hon Lasun was personally signed by Pa Lawal himself.

One of Pa Lawal’s followers simply known as Abimbowo (a.k.a Ijanja) allegedly got overzealous and sent a message to Hon Lasun, threatening that he could be attacked, harassed and disgraced if he insists on attending the birthday programme.

The medium gathered that Abimbowo has been arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) on the alleged threat message.

The Deputy Speaker did not attend the birthday ceremony eventually.