Aremo Olusegun Osoba is one of the leaders of Ogun APC. He is the political godfather of Gov. Dapo Abiodun. He has a political structure in the state that is formidable. The big news is that members of the Osoba Group are displeased with the list of 19 commissioner nominees recent released by Gov. Dapo Abiodun. Many of Chief Osoba’s loyalists are angry. Under the aegis of Osoba Political Family they, view governor Dapo Abiodun’s “all-inclusive” mantra, as a ploy to specifically ease out their political bloc from the current administration. They issued a statement was jointly signed by Ayo Martins, Chief Olalekan Kelani and 22 others. While faulting the list, they argued that it did not reflect the interest of genuine members of the party in the state.
They submitted that some individuals, “who are conservatively greedy businessmen and hijackers of power” have succeeded in hijacking the soul of Abiodun – led administration. However, the group called on the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to prevail on Abiodun to “do the needful and correct the imbalance perceived so far in Ogun State.”
The statement partly reads: “Osoba Political Family has patiently observed the activities of these individuals who are conservatively greedy businessmen and hijackers of power who have succeeded in hijacking the soul of the present administration in Ogun State. These power manipulators were part of past government in Ogun State that people in their wisdom rejected, but stealthily walked back into the realm of Government through the calm approach to governance by Prince Dapo Abiodun and are ready to wreak further havoc on the dreams and aspirations of the Progressives in the APC and the State, who worked tirelessly for the emergence of the Governor. “ It is on record and we challenge any of the hijackers to contradict the fact that Our Leader, Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba, against all odds, stood solidly by Prince Dapo Abiodun, from the point he decided to run for the office of The Governor and put his hard-earned reputation and goodwill at stake to support Prince Dapo Abiodun before Labour Unions and PMB. He allowed everything he has, including, but not limited to his abode to be used for anything positive for the victory of Prince Dapo Abiodun at the polls.
Chief Osoba, to our knowledge, stood as Guarantor for the person of Prince Dapo Abiodun being a perfect gentleman in many places including, but not limited to Palaces of prominent traditional rulers in Ogun State, where the integrity of these power grabbers could not open the doors, not to talk of putting their goodwill at stake.
“Chief Olusegun Osoba, who is a renowned journalist, a progressive and astute politician, who is known for his untainted integrity and always stands for what he believes in; never looked back when the former Governor of Ogun State threatened fire and war against the aspirations of Prince Dapo Abiodun because he believed in the genuine intentions of Prince Dapo Abiodun to serve the people and turn around the fortunes of the State for the best. “We want to reiterate that APC is the party we belong to and we shall not vacate the party for any interloper and hyenas hovering around the Governor as it is now observed. It is crystal clear now that they have moved to submerge the structure of the Party in the State, as they arrogate so much powers to themselves because they occupy the corridor of power. The Party shall surely outlive whatever manipulation they have perfected and the strong power and will of the Party to do the needful will surely reincarnate when the time of reckoning comes.
“ It is necessary to remind these professional power manipulators and hijackers that our leader, Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba, has imbibed the spirit of contentment and perseverance in all the followers and we remain irrevocably committed to the success of this administration, but we shall no longer fold our arms for the interest of our members, who are progressive-minded, qualified and loyal to both APC and Prince Dapo Abiodun, to be trampled upon under this administration.
“We also want to remind the Governor that the all-inclusive government promised has not taken the Osoba Political family into consideration in the past and present appointments made, as there are loyal, distinguished, qualified and experienced persons in the Osoba Political family who can contribute immensely to the actualisation of the upliftment (sic) of Ogun State to greater heights. Can we conveniently say that the power manipulators around Governor Dapo Abiodun perceive Osoba Political Family as opposition or threat to their conservative style of doing things?
“We want to urge the Governor to live up to his words and personally do the needful to address the imbalance in the appointments now and appointments to be made later as we can boldly say that it’s not only the members of the group that presently (sic) dominates the ongoing appointments that worked for the success of the party at the polls, but our leader, Chief Olusegun Osoba, CON and all his followers worked assiduously and provided the leverage for the emergence of the mandate, which we all enjoy through the victory of the party at the polls.
“It is important for Prince Dapo Abiodun to remember that sweat and bloodshed by the members of this political family in order to serve the State should not be forgotten as God Almighty who used these people to actualise your dream and aspirations is on the throne observing all our deeds. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. “We call on the National Chairman of Our great Party, All Progressives’ Party, APC, National leaders of the party, South West Caucus Leaders including, but not limited to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Akande, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo and other well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Prince Dapo Abiodun to do the needful and correct the imbalance perceived so far in Ogun State.
“We pray for God’s wisdom and discerning spirit for the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in the herculean task of running the affairs of the State. Meanwhile, the Ogun State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed 17 out of the 18 commissioner-nominees whose names were forwarded by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
The unanimous confirmation of the nominees came through House Resolution “HR No 049/OG/2019” at a plenary in Abeokuta, presided over by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo.
It followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Selection by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, after which the Minority Leader, Ganiyu Oyedeji, moved the motion for the adoption of the report and supported by the Whole House.
The committee on selection had recommended the nominees for confirmation as commissioners, having been found eligible as required by Section 192 (4) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Right now the ruling party of Ogun State has been torn apart because the Governor did not consider those he was supposed to, knowing fully well that the same thing torn the party apart during the administration of Senator Amosun. The Amosun faction in the APM is already using the opportunity of the crisis in the party to take over the party as they have all left APM back to APC, including the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Abiodun Akinlade, who was Governor Amosun’s preferred candidate during the last gubernatorial election.
Concerned elders of the party have not publicly commented about the development and crisis in the party, but an inside source disclosed that they are all folding their hands to see where the decision of the Governor will take him.
