A socio-political group, Osun Democrats for Democracy (ODD), has reacted to a statement made by the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, omitting Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s name from the names of former governors in Osun State “because he has never participated in any election since 2022”.
A statement at the weekend signed by the group’s chairman, Alhaji Abdulmarauf Odunlade, described the position of the National Secretary as an embarrassment to Osun people who voted Rauf Aregbesola twice as the governor of Osun State on the platform of APC.
He further warned that Basiru should not be vindictive, considering his current office and the importance of a vote in winning an election.
“Senator Ajibola Basiru owes Osun people an apology, particularly the 394,684 voters who voted for Rauf Aregbesola in the 2014 election under APC for his statement that “as of today, there are two former governors in our party, Baba Bisi Akande and Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
“Basiru served under Aregbesola as Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties during his first term. Later, in the second term, he was appointed as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for the state. So, he should, at least, have some respect for the former governor.
“His reason for omitting Aregbesola is myopic because this same Basiru was everywhere in the media criticising and insulting Aregbesola prior to the 2022 general elections that sent APC packing from Bola Ige House. He was also quick to point accusing fingers at Rauf for their defeat in the 2022 election.
“As a National Secretary of APC, Basiru should be concerned about uniting APC and not uttering desultory statements. Aregbesola recently launched a group called ‘Omoluabi Caucus’, a group he created to protect the interest of his loyalists from the vindictive action in Osun APC. Also, his absence from election is the fault of the Osun APC leaders who neglected the Aregbesola faction and focused on only the Ilerioluwa faction.”
“Osun Democrats for Democracy (ODD) demands a public apology from Ajibola Basiru for his statement about Aregbesola and also for disrespecting Osun people, particularly APC apologists in the state,” he emphasised.
