A former federal lawmaker and elder statesman in Osun State, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye, has disclosed his numerous but unsuccessful attempts to reconcile President Bola Tinubu and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, whose once-solid friendship has deteriorated over time.
Speaking during an appearance on a live television programme on Sunday, Adeyeye painted a picture of the bond that once existed between the two political heavyweights.
According to him, Tinubu had such unwavering trust in Aregbesola that he openly vouched for him in the most striking terms.
“I was at a meeting where Tinubu said, ‘If you see me sleeping and you see Rauf coming with a dagger or a knife, don’t wake me up; Rauf will never injure me.
“That was how much trust he had in Aregbesola,” Adeyeye stated.
The former lawmaker revealed that the feeling was mutual, as Aregbesola held Tinubu in the highest esteem, placing him just below God in his hierarchy of respect and loyalty.
“For Rauf, the only entity in the universe bigger than Tinubu was God,” he added.
Despite their once-unbreakable bond, Adeyeye suggested that a perceived betrayal may have caused the rift.
“I have the feeling that what happened between them was Rauf thinking that Tinubu sided with his own brother against him,” he said.
Adeyeye expressed deep sadness over the fallout, describing his tireless but futile efforts to mediate between the two.
“I tried my best to settle them. I tried my very best. Not once, not twice, but severally.
“Power can be a terrible thing. It is treacherous in Nigeria,” he admitted.
Reflecting on his own position, Adeyeye emphasised his neutrality and commitment to peace.
“I seek nothing,” he said, adding that his long-standing experience in politics predates both Tinubu and Aregbesola.
“Only God elevates,” the Osun-born lawmaker asserted.
While he acknowledged the difficulty of mending the fractured relationship, he maintained that reconciliation was not entirely out of reach.
“If the two of them want to settle, it’s not impossible,” Adeyeye concluded, leaving the door open for a potential resolution.
