…Regrets Nigerians have misconstrued meeting with APC leaders
By Segun Olatunji, Abeokuta
Former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital opened up on his return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He disclosed how the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona mounted pressure on him to return to the progressives fold.
Osoba spoke against the backdrop of a meeting held in his Ikoyi, Lagos residence with the leaders and some governors of the ruling APC last Sunday, which he regretted had been misconstrued by Nigerians.
According to Osoba, contrary to some media reports, the APC national leaders and governors led by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu only came to plead with him to return to the party’s fold.
Aside from Tinubu, others in attendance at the meeting were the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule and former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.
Others included former interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; APC National Vice Chairman, South West, Chief Pius Akinyelure and Senator Gbenga Obadara and ex – deputy governor, Prince Segun Adesegun.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun, his deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga and APC leaders in Osoba’s home state of Ogun did not attend the meeting and no explanation was given for their absence.
The former governor spoke during the public presentation and launch of a book entitled, “Alake of Egbaland: The Succession Dynamics,” written by Chief Alani Bankole, the father of the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole
The Aremo Awujale and the Akinrogun of Egbaland stressed that he neither convened nor hosted such meeting of the party leaders in his house as being bandied around.
“There are other things that I would say about Alake but not here because the story of what happened on Sunday when the entire APC came to plead with me, people are making mistake that I hosted South West meeting.
They came to plead with me and the pleading had been on; and the role of Alake and Awujale, this is not the occasion to say it because this is not a political gathering. So, I want to thank Kabiyesi for what happened on Sunday; he has always been with me and God will always be with you, Kabiyesi. By the grace of God, Egbaland will continue to flourish,” he said.
Osoba after the book launch where he donated half a million Naira, said he had only taken sometime off from the party and has now returned to its fold.
His words: “I’m a founding father of APC if I take a leave of absence from my own house, would I not return to my father’s house? I’m back to my father’s house,” he said.
The former governor described Bankole as a political juggernaut with whom he shared a lot of closeness inspite of the differences in their political leanings.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the occassion,Chief Olatunde Abudu, described the 5-chapter 127-page book as a “customary masterpiece on the making of Alake of Egbaland.”
Abudu, a foremost industrialist and educationist added that the book had given insight into the selection and final ascension of Oba Gbadebo to the throne of the Alake.
Professor Olukayode Oyesiku who reviewed the book noted that it was devoid of technical jargons and that it showed indepth understanding and analysis of the issues surrounding royal succession in Egbaland.
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