The immediate past Spokesperson of the Senate, Ajibola Basiru, yesterday, said he no longer recognises Rauf Aregbesola as leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State.
Basiru, who represented Osun Central Senatorial District in the Ninth Senate, stated this while delivering his scorecard to his constituents, chieftains and members of the party at his campaign office in Osogbo.
He said Aregbesola’s alleged absence in the state during the 2023 general elections and his lack of support for the party’s candidates were enough to question his membership of the party.
The former lawmaker also berated Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, for allegedly acting as a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Basiru said the monarch had ceased to act like royalty, saying his palace has been turned into a meeting point for PDP members.
He said claims of the monarch that he (Basiru) didn’t do anything for the palace, as a senator was not true.
“To put on record, I won in Osogbo and Olorunda Local Council. I won in Ward 1 Unit 15, which is adjacent to the palace of Ataoja. I did not go to campaign in the palace of Ataoja because as far as I know him, he has ceased to act as a monarch. He is acting as a card-carrying member of the PDP,” he said.
“I know today that it is his palace that they are doing meeting of PDP. I don’t have any personal quarrel with him. As a senator, I put a 45kv generator in his palace, I put electrification and I supported the palace beautification project with a huge sum of money. I would not have mentioned it if he had not said I did not do anything for him.
“If he now feels that he wants to serve his masters in country home, Ede, he is free to do so. If he wants to be a politician, let him continue to do his politics.”
Meanwhile, while delivering a text of his address entitled: “An Exit is a New Beginning” said he delivered on the promises he made to his constituency in the four years he was in the Senate adding that he performed excellently in the areas of qualitative representation, human capital development, jobs and employment opportunities, facilitation of many road, school and other infrastructural projects among other achievements.
Basiru expressed confidence in the leadership of Chief Bisi Akande and Gboyega Oyetola in leading the party to victory in the forthcoming governorship and other elections, saying, “I believe that all exits invariably translates to new beginnings. My exit from the Senate has surely provided other opportunities for me to explore other frontiers for personal and professional development; political advancement and dedication to public service in other capacities, as Allah may will.
“To my compatriots in the APC, I say that we all have huge responsibilities to work to strengthen and reposition our party in the State to put us to our winning ways in the next round of elections commencing from the Governorship election in Osun State in 2026.
“I have since sent my thoughts, by way of memorandum, to Professor Isaac Adewole’s Committee on repositioning of our party. I believe our leaders, Baba Bisi Akande and His Excellency, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola are committed to leading our party to winning ways in the next round of elections. We also have responsibilities to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which success will greatly contribute to the success of our party in subsequent elections. I will not cease to maintain my principled position on matters of public service and political morality as we continue to work for a better Osun State and Nigeria.”
Credit: The Guardian
