Barring any last minute change, former
governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba,
would soon be returning to the All Progressives
Congress (APC), the party he dumped for the
Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the build-up to
the 2015 elections.
It was learnt that Osoba is likely to return to
the governing party before the party’s
convention scheduled for April. Osoba headed
the constitution drafting committee of the APC.
New Telegraph learnt that the National Leader
of APC and former governor of Lagos State,
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is the brain behind
Osoba’s return to the governing party.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun is not part of the
planned return of Osoba. His political associates
are likely going to work against the return.
Multiple sources told New Telegraph that
Tinubu and some leaders of the party in the
South-West have been holding talks with Osoba
on his return to APC. It was learnt that Osoba
told the party leaders that he cannot return to
the party as a “new comer, having been a
foundation member.”
The former governor stated that he must be
accorded similar recognition like pioneer
members. “I can tell you that the likes of
Tinubu wanted him back in the party as soon
as possible, but the cold response in the
governor’s camp to the purported return is
adding a fresh twist to the whole issue.
“Interestingly, those working behind the scene
for his return are planning an elaborate
welcome back for him, but Aremo has insisted
that he wants a low key return devoid of all
fanfare since he was a founding member of the
party,” a source familiar with the arrangement
told New Telegraph.
According to the source, the closeness of
Amosun to President Muhammadu Buhari may
be employed to settle scores between the two
Egba-born politicians. “Many believe that Osoba
left the party that he helped form, based on
principles.
You know in politics, there are no permanent
friends or enemies, but permanent interest. I
think Amosun is not comfortable with the
return because the major issues that caused the
misunderstanding between the duo has not
been addressed.
The return of Osoba to APC, if not well
managed, may pitch Amosun against Tinubu,
especially if the terms of the governor are not
considered. “Also, the intrigues around his
return might not be unconnected with the game
for 2019, both at the state and national levels.
You know Osoba has friends across the land and
his influence is quite enormous.”
He stated that Osoba, who was instrumental to
the emergence of Amosun in 2011, is already in
talks with his supporters on the modalities of
their return to the party. Efforts to speak with
the former governor proved abortive, as calls
made to his cellphone were not answered.
He did not respond to the short message service
(SMS) sent to his phone. Recently, the
lawmaker representing Ifo/Ewekoro federal
constituency, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka, gave a hint
that federal lawmakers from APC in Ogun State
are set to wade into the row between Amosun
and Osoba. “The difference between them was
political rather than personal.
We are going to work with both of them,”
Isiaka stated. In the build up to the 2015
elections, Osoba fell out with Amosun. Hence,
Osoba, alongside the three former serving
senators in the state – Gbenga Kaka (Ogun
East); Akin Odunsi (Ogun West); Gbenga
Obadara (Ogun Central); former deputy
governor, Segun Adesegun; seven out of the
nine House of Representatives’ members from
the state, as well as a chunk of the state House
of Assembly members, pitched tent with the
SDP.
New Telegraph
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