Osun 2018: Battle Royale for APC’s Guber Ticket

The stage is getting set for the September 22 governorship election in Osun State as more chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) go public with their desire to succeed outgoing governor Rauf Aregbesola.

But as the much anticipated election draws closer, with Aregbesola still preferring to keep chieftains and members of his party guessing about who he has in mind as his likely successor, party sources say APC members with governorship ambition may have decided to bring their aspiration into the open while hoping they will eventually get the nod of the governor.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that before now, unlike their counterparts in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), gubernatorial hopefuls on the platform of the ruling party have been keeping their political activities in check, preferring instead to continue with what one of them described as ‘underground intra party consultations’, largely due to their desire to know Aregbesola’s disposition towards their aspiration before going too far.  Comrade Monsur Aibinuola, a former legislator from Ikire, while speaking to our correspondent, said “many of them have been waiting to know if the governor is favorably disposed towards their aspiration. Some others want to find out what then position of the party and party leaders will be on the burning issue of zoning. Their are those who want the party and or the governor to openly announce who the APC will field before throwing themselves into the race.

“But as you can see, Governor Aregbesola appears not to be in a hurry to endorse or anoint anybody. Or he is simply not going to do that. I once heard him saying he will anoint anybody the party chooses as candidate. But there is no doubt about the fact that the main reason why our aspirants were not as visible as those of the PDP was because many were still waiting on Aregbesola.”

Thus, there is a battle royale among the many gubernatorial gladiators within the state chapter of the ruling APC. And very soon, chieftains and members would be confronted with the seemingly simple task of choosing who will fly the party’s banner at the September 22 governorship election. But pundits say given the array of aspirants now jostling for the coveted job, the task before APC faithfuls in Osun is obviously not as simple as it appears.

Among those jostling to succeed Governor Rauf Aregbesola within the party’s fold is Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, the incumbent Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and a former Chairman of the defunct Acton Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state. A leading chieftain of the ruling party, Adeoti is an influential politician seen as many as one of the front-runners in the race for the APC governorship ticket.

Pundits say the 65 year old politician is banking on the unwritten zoning arrangement in the state to favor his aspiration. He hails from Iwo in Osun West senatorial district. Former governors Bisi Akande and Olagunsoye Oyinlola from Osun Central governed the state between 1999 and 2010 while Osun East senatorial district produced the incumbent, Aregbesola on November 26, 2010. He is rounding up his second term in office.

Adeoti is a politician with a wide political network that cuts across the state. His experience in government and politics is also expected to be advantageous in his pursuit of the party’s governorship ticket. Sources claim he recently reactivated his political bases in all the local government areas of the state as part of efforts to further boost his chances of emerging as the APC candidate.

Also being rumored to be revving to throw his hat into the ring of the contest for the APC ticket is Hon. Najeem Salaam, the current Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly. A close political ally of incumbent Governor Aregbesola, the Ejigbo-born politician, according to close aides, is one of those who wishes to know the workings of the governor’s mind before going all out with their ambition.

“The Speaker want to contest the governorship election. But as a loyal party man, he is also considering the interest of the party at all times. He is interested in ensuring that the governorship race does not in any way create crisis for the party, hence his cautious approach to the contest. But nonetheless, he is a top contender for the ticket any day and any how you look at it,” a source told The Nation.

Coming from Osun West like Adeoti, though much younger and an astute politician in all ramification, Salaam, to many party chieftains, stands a good chance should he get the nod of the governor. He has been Speaker of the Assembly since 2011. He is one of those believed to possess the leadership and financial wherewithal to confront the opposition PDP at the 2018 goober contest.

Incumbent Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuf, has left no one in doubt of his desire to fly the banner of the ruling APC during the governorship election later in the year. For nearly two years now, he has been criss-crossing the state, consulting party leaders and members over his much publicized gubernatorial ambition.

Also from Osun West senatorial district, the Ilobu-born lawmaker, according to party sources, is confident of emerging as the candidate of the APC and has been working hard to secure the support of relevant stakeholders ahead of the primary election of the ruling party. Aside being an old war horse in the politics of the state, Lasun’s supporters are banking on his perceived huge war chest to clinch the ticket.

However, pundits say his soured relationship with Governor Aregbesola may prove his ongoing when the chips are down. He fell out with the governor at the onset of his current term at the national assembly. Efforts to reconcile the duo have proved abortive on several occasions. Expectedly, many interests and forces within the party have been up in arms against Lasun’s ambition.

Gboyega Oyetola, the current Chief of Staff to the Governorb is another aspirant whose visibility has been increasing rapidly in recent weeks. Severally rumored as the preferred candidate of some power blocs within the party, the Iragbiji-born technocrat turned politician, unlike Adeoti, Lasun and Salaam, is from Osun central senatorial district. This is one tool in the hands of those opposed to his aspiration.

An experienced private sector player before coming into politics, Oyetola, according to his supporters, has what it takes to build on the many achievements of the Aregbesola administration if elected as governor. But he would have to first cross the hurdle placed on his way by the unwritten zoning arrangement among other things before he can think of realizing his governorship ambition.

“Oyetola’s background in the private sector as well as his experience as a financial expert are some of the things our dear state needs in the post Aregbesola years to remain on the path to development. Those rooting for his candidacy are doing so largely because they understand what the state needs at this crucial period. We cannot afford to hand the state over to anybody who is less equipped for the task,” a party source said.

Although he is yet to even formally tell his political family of his desire to gun for the governorship seat again, Peter Babalola, the Chairman of Osun Local Government Service Commission, is seen in some quarters as one individual who should not be ruled out of the race for the APC ticket just yet. The former PDP chieftain, who had sought to be Governor on two previous occasions, according to some sources, may be working behind the scene in pursuit of the governorship ticket.

However, he will have to battle a number of odds if he is to go far in the race. First, not many chieftains and members of the ruling party are comfortable with him as many are yet to forget how fiercely he fought the progressives when he was still in the opposition party. He is also no longer perceived as one of the trusted allies of the governor following his removal as Aregbesola’s Chief of Staff some years back.

The Nation