Adeyeye says Tinubu may miss former ally Aregbesola
Former Osun Central senator Olusola Adeyeye says President Bola Tinubu may privately miss his former political partnership with Rauf Aregbesola, despite their publicised fallout. Speaking on Channels Television, Adeyeye described their past bond as unusually strong and said political disagreements had separated two once-close allies.
Former Osun Central senator Olusola Adeyeye has said President Bola Tinubu may privately miss the political partnership he once shared with former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, despite the breakdown in their relationship. Adeyeye made the comments during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Sunday. Asked whether Tinubu missed Aregbesola in his political circle, he said the President might not acknowledge it publicly but believed the former allies had shared an unusually close bond.
“I don’t think he will admit it, but I am sure he does,” Adeyeye said. He added that he did not know anyone who had loved Tinubu as much as Aregbesola or anyone for whom Tinubu had gone to greater lengths. Adeyeye, who served in the Senate during Aregbesola’s tenure as Osun governor, said he had maintained a close political relationship with the former governor and regularly sought his approval on political matters.
He described the two men as having once been strongly aligned before political disagreements caused them to part ways. Aregbesola was associated with Tinubu’s political camp in Lagos and served as commissioner for works and infrastructure while Tinubu was governor of the state. He later became governor of Osun after securing the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket and winning following a prolonged legal battle.
Their relationship deteriorated amid disagreements in Osun, including over the succession to Aregbesola. Tinubu supported Gboyega Oyetola, Aregbesola’s former chief of staff, in the 2018 governorship election. The dispute deepened before the 2022 election, after which Aregbesola and his supporters distanced themselves from the APC structure in the state.
Adeyeye said he had previously tried to reconcile the former allies. Aregbesola is now national secretary of the African Democratic Congress, whose national chairman is former Senate President David Mark. Adeyeye said their new alliance illustrated how political relationships can change over time.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.