… As Mimiko allegedly relocates to Abuja
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Osun state, has instructed his supporters in Ondo state to back Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election on April 25.
Aregbesola, a former Minister of Interior, views Aiyedatiwa’s emergence as an opportunity to regain political prominence in the Southwest.
It will be recalled that the former governor, who was once known as the “Second in Command” to President Bola Tinubu, fell out with the president shortly after the 2019 general elections.
Their feud reached a climax during the 2022 APC governorship election in Osun state, when Aregbesola supported Moshood Adeoti and Tinubu supported the then governor, Gboyega Oyetola.
Aregbesola’s allies including Oladipupo Okeyomi, also known as ‘Carry Go’, and Bola Ilori, his former Special Adviser, are already in Ondo state leading the campaign for Aiyedatiwa ahead of the party’s primary election.
Okeyomi is the convener of the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers (LACO-FS) while Ilori was said to have held a series of meetings with APC members, particularly the Aborigines on the need to support Aiyedatiwa.
A trusted leader in the Aregbesola camp in Ondo state stated: “We are doing this not only for Governor Aiyedatiwa, but also for Aregbesola.
“You know, Aregbesola grew up in this state and invested heavily in the state politics while serving as governor of Osun. We believe that Lucky’s nomination as the party’s candidate will send a strong message to Abuja’s leaders that Aregbesola is a politician that cannot be ignored.
“We understand that the President may not support Aiyedatiwa, but what we are doing is preparing for whatever mode of primary the party chooses and delivering the ticket for Aiyedatiwa in as much as the poll process is free, fair, and credible.”
Meanwhile, former Governor Olusegun Mimiko is said to be among the leaders supporting Aiyedatiwa’s continuation beyond February 2025.
However, Mimiko who is the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has been accused of romancing Aiyedatiwa ahead of the November 16, governorship poll.
According to reports, Mimiko’s loyalists now hold key political positions in Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration.
A source close to former Mimiko’s media aide, John Paul Akinduro, claims the former governor has allegedly relocated to Abuja to lobby for Aiyedatiwa’s party ticket.
Mimiko is reportedly reaching out to his APC allies in Abuja to lobby the Presidency for Aiyedatiwa’s party ticket.
“Mimiko places high value on political relevance, and he will go to any length to ensure Aiyedatiwa is elected. Mimiko’s political relevance has declined since he left government in 2017.
“However, since Aiyedatiwa has adopted him as his godfather, Mimiko has emerged once again as a major player in the state politics, which is why he is working tirelessly to ensure the governor receives the APC ticket,” an APC source stated.
