At Last, Osoba Returns To APC

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Uncategorized Sunday, April 3rd, 2016

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba has finally returned back to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Osoba decided to return back to the fold after the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu led the party’s delegates to Osoba’s house in Bourdillon, Lagos to persuade him to return back home.

At the meeting were the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi while Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State was represented by her deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule. Also present were Chief Bisi Akande, Niyi Adebayo, while Governor Ibikunle Amosun was absent from the meeting.

Osoba was a founding member of the APC but fell apart with Ammosun over who controls the Ogun APC politics. He went to establish the SDP but his party was defeated in Ogun State.

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who spoke to journalists shortly after the meeting held at the Ikoyi residence of former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, said the leadership of the party in the region have resolved their differences and are more than ever ready to pursue an agenda for development of the region.

He said, “We have resolved all the differences within the leadership and as such we are happy to tell the world that the leadership of progressive politics in Western part of Nigeria is united and ready to jointly prosecute the agenda for growth, purposeful leadership, development, good governance in the Western part of Nigeria.

“As we are committed to doing that for the entire nation and through that support the effort at the national level to revive the Nigerian economy and put the people in a better stead than we inherited when our party took over governance in Nigeria.

Aregbesola expressed optimism that good governance and purposeful leadership can trigger the desired change, which according to him will not only profit Nigeria, but also the African continent and the black race.

“I have told you very clearly that the progressive leadership of the Yoruba race is now fully united and are ready and charged to lead our efforts to reposition our land and integrate with others nationwide to put Nigeria in its proper footing,” Aregbesola said.

Aregbesola seized the occasion to announce to journalists that Aremo Osoba had rejoined the APC from the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“There was a time when Osoba switched to another party, he was a foundation member of the APC and he was in the APC throughout my election. Yes, he was for a time with the SDP, but with what we have just done today, Akinrogun Osoba, the Aremo himself, is back with the Progressive leadership of the Yoruba race,” he said.

Speaking with newsmen, Osoba, who was elated, sang a Yoruba song which he called aa Awolowo’s song and simply said the war is over.

Also speaking, Tinubu said he was filled with joy that the progressives had reunited once again to make the party stronger in all front.

“What is very crucial is for us to strengthen our front and remain in the progressives. I am an unapologetic progressives and I will remain one. And that is the only principle I abide. Wherever the progressives are, they must be united with their vision,” he said.

On why Amosun was not present, Tinubu said “nobody is left out, it is all progressive and no one is left out, no matter your insinuation. Amosun is with us, we can excuse people. The Governor of Ogun State is selected on the platform of APC and we can vouch for him. This is not a medialess revolution. Leaders of the party identified with us and it is clear we are all one, including Amosun. Who told you we are fighting?”

Those in attendance at the meeting include the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule; former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Segun Olusegun; former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; former interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; APC National Vice Chairman, South West, Chief Pius Akinyelure; Senator Gbenga Obadara, among others.