Aregbesola and Oyetola must reconcile for APC to win Osun - Minister's Assistant

Mr. Sola Fasure, the Media Adviser to Home Minister Mr. Rauf Aregbesola talks with BOLA BAMIGBOLA on the 2023 general election and the ongoing reconciliation of the Osun State All Progressives Congress between the faction loyal to its boss and immediate former governor, Adegboyega Oyetola

Your principal, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, seems rather inactive in Senator Bola Tinubu's presidential campaign. Why is this so?

You will notice that the members of the Federal Executive Council, including the Vice-President, are not yet active. They all follow the presidential directive to focus on governance. I'm very sure they will be, now. The campaign is entering its most critical phase, with the date of the elections approaching.

Given the situation in Osun, how would you rate the party's readiness for the 2023 general election?

The state party is reconciling after the turf war that saw it lose the gubernatorial election. You will definitely see a more dynamic election-winning machine after the conclusion of the ongoing reconciliation process.

You talked about reconciliation, but since the group loyal to Ogbeni announced the end of all hostilities and expressed its willingness to reconcile with other interests within APC, nothing serious was heard on the meetings between the two groups. What is the situation exactly?

This act is a demonstration of good will of our tendency. Reconciliation is one thing; healing is another. Both sides are still suffering from the war and healing may take longer. One side is still suffering from the loss of the gubernatorial election. The implication of loss of power dawns on them. Governor Ademola Adeleke could make more heinous revelations, which could lead to "who knows" consequences, causing even more pain.

On the other hand, the TOP trend, let's not forget, has moved away from the party and the government. These are the people who made possible the election of Governor Oyetola. But they were tracked down, arrested and brought before the court. Some were arrested and taken to Ilesa detention center.

Some have been denied party tickets because of their association with Ogbeni Aregbesola. Ex-governor Aregbesola himself was alienated from the party and the government. He was reviled and subjected to relentless attacks. A campaign of slander was unleashed against him, including sponsored calls for his removal as minister. He was the person who reorganized the party after the defeat of the PDP in 2003.

He rebuilt it from the ground up and turned it into a winning machine, winning three governorships, three presidential elections, and consecutive state and national legislative elections. Even sitting lawmakers who were seen as friendly to them were denied tickets. Therefore, the healing process may take some time.

In the end, over time, everyone will be fine. What is important is the consensus reached on both sides to reconcile and leave as one family. Let us just pray that the entrepreneurs of the conflict who profit from the feud do not derail the process.

Some party sources recently said that Ogbeni Aregbesola plans to return to Osun to start campaigning for all but one of the APC candidates on the ballot. Who is this person and why won't the ex-governor campaign for him?

I am not aware of this. Osun is a veritable rumor mill. You cannot split a campaign. If you campaign for your party, you bring every candidate with you; you cannot alienate any candidate.

The rest of the work will be done by the voters, depending on the credibility of each candidate in front of them. Aregbesola brings all his goodwill, credibility and campaign prowess; there is no doubt. But the people will decide in the end.

As part of the reconciliation, the traditional APC of Osun ordered members of the former group "The Progressives of Osun", supported by Aregbesola, to return to their various neighborhoods and to start campaigning for party candidates. Did they follow this instruction?

TOP members never left their quarters and would have participated fully in the last gubernatorial election had they not been alienated.

In fact, they were then told that their support was not necessary. It turned out that their unrecognized support was very valuable and their alienation very costly. I hope the same mistake will not happen again. I want us to understand this clearly: Aregbesola and TOP have no candidate in this election and have no other interest than the name of the party and its fortune. It's on the other side...